Thursday, December 17, 2009

More 2009 Mississippi Bar Sanctions

As part of its commitment to serve the public, Jackson Jambalaya is publishing the names of lawyers sanctioned by the Mississippi Bar this year. These names come from online issues of the Mississippi Lawyer. The May/June 2009 issue (Pages 31-32) reported the following sanctions:

Dwayne Deer of McComb: Disbarment. Mr. Deer surrendered his license. Mr. Deer was convicted of participating in a real estate fraud scheme. Oddly enough, the publication does not mention any part of his conviction. It only says "he had committed violations of Rules...... in a bankruptcy matter where he failed to safekeep client funds."

What Mr. Deer actually did was reported in this article:
"McComb attorney Dwayne Deer pleaded guilty in federal court last week to conspiracy to commit bank fraud.
Deer was accused of conspiring with McComb developer Todd Phillips to submit false information to acquire more than $14.5 million in funding for real estate developments throughout Mississippi from more than 20 banks..."

However, an article in the Clarion-Ledger states he was barred for misappropriating funds in his escrow account after a bankruptcy judge found some improper um, accounting of the funds, not for the actual crime he of which he was convicted. If you read the Bar's account of Mr. Deer's disbarment in its publication, you would never know he was part of a multi-million dollar real estate fraud.

John M. Mooney, Jr. of Jackson: 90 Day Suspension. Deposited client's $2,500 retainer in another account when it should have been placed in the Lawyer Trust account. Didn't perform any work on the case, kept client's money even after being ordered to return it by the Bar. He listed client as a creditor when he filed bankruptcy.

Laquetta Golden of Gulfport: 14 Day Suspension effective March 26, 2009. Two complaints were filed aginst Ms. Golden. The first one allged she "failed to have entered a final default judgement in a replevin matter." The second one alleged she collected 2/3 of the settlement as attorney's fees in a Section 1983 lawsuit. She also deposited the settlement check into her operating account instead of her Lawyer Trust account although part of that was due to bank error.

J.B. Goodsell of Jackson: 14 Day Suspension. Here we go again as Mr. Goodsell is in trouble once more. Mr. Goodsell took a $500 fee to handle a replevin matter and didn't prepare the documents needed until three weeks after the first meeting and only then when the client raised hell. He then demanded another $1,100 for court costs of filing the case. Mr. Goodsell told client he had a court date of September 26, 2007 despite the fact no case was filed. Mr. Goodsell also blew off the bar and didn't respond to the Bar Complaint. The Bar also stated Mr. Goodsell had three prior Public Reprimands.

By the way, is anyone noticing a pattern? Lawyers who ignore bar complaints and don't respond to them don't seem to suffer too much from flipping off the Bar, do they?

7 comments:

Kingfish said...

What would Kingfish have done?

Mooney I would've suspended for a year as in my opinion, he stole the client's money.

Golden: I would've suspended her for 30-60 days. 14 days isn't enough to really hurt a lawyer.


Goodsell: six month suspension, easy. Obviously the public reprimands don't make a difference. He blew off the bar and lied to the client. Bar went way too easy.

Anonymous said...

do they not even have to pay a fine or anything?? Or am I just overlooking that part?

I'm like you KF, those suspensions are outright laughable imo.

Kingfish said...

I'm wondering why the bar doesn't hammer them for not replying for bar complaints.

No wonder the Bar isn't respected.

Anonymous said...

From the MS Bar website.

Mission Statement: The Mississippi Bar shall serve the public good by promoting excellence in the profession and in our system of justice.

Goals

Goal 1 -- To promote excellence in our system of justice.
Goal 2 -- To ensure the highest standards of professional competence and ethical conduct of the membership.
Goal 3 -- To increase the public's understanding and appreciation of our system of justice and the role of the legal profession.
Goal 4 -- To promote the availability and delivery of legal services.
Goal 5 -- To provide programs and services to assist members in providing high quality legal services in a professional and cost effective manner.

Sounds like the bar is all talk and very little action.

Anonymous said...

So KF did you ever get the complaint form?

Anonymous said...

J.B. should be sent to the house for good. He is lucky that he is not in the "big house".

Kingfish said...

Got it. Its going to get its own post in the next few days.



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Trollfest '07 was such a success that Jackson Jambalaya will once again host Trollfest '09. Catch this great event which will leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Othor Cain and his band, The Black Power Structure headline the night while Sonjay Poontang returns for an encore performance. Former Frank Melton bodyguard Marcus Wright makes his premier appearance at Trollfest singing "I'm a Sweet Transvestite" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Kamikaze will sing his new hit, “How I sold out to da Man.” Robbie Bell again performs: “Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Bells” and “Any friend of Ed Peters is a friend of mine”. After the show, Ms. Bell will autograph copies of her mug shot photos. In a salute to “Dancing with the Stars”, Ms. Bell and Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith will dance the Wango Tango.

Wrestling returns, except this time it will be a Battle Royal with Othor Cain, Ben Allen, Kim Wade, Haley Fisackerly, Alan Lange, and “Big Cat” Donna Ladd all in the ring at the same time. The Battle Royal will be in a steel cage, no time limit, no referee, and the losers must leave town. Marshand Crisler will be the honorary referee (as it gives him a title without actually having to do anything).


Meet KIM Waaaaaade at the Entergy Tent. For five pesos, Kim will sell you a chance to win a deed to a crack house on Ridgeway Street stuffed in the Howard Industries pinata. Don't worry if the pinata is beaten to shreds, as Mr. Wade has Jose, Emmanuel, and Carlos, all illegal immigrants, available as replacements for the it. Upon leaving the Entergy tent, fig leaves will be available in case Entergy literally takes everything you have as part of its Trollfest ticket price adjustment charge.

Donna Ladd of The Jackson Free Press will give several classes on learning how to write. Smearing, writing without factchecking, and reporting only one side of a story will be covered. A donation to pay their taxes will be accepted and she will be signing copies of their former federal tax liens. Ms. Ladd will give a dramatic reading of her two award-winning essays (They received The Jackson Free Press "Best Of" awards.) "Why everything is always about me" and "Why I cover murders better than anyone else in Jackson".

In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.


In order to help clean up the legal profession, Adam Kilgore of the Mississippi Bar will be giving away free, round-trip plane tickets to the North Pole where they keep their bar complaint forms (which are NOT available online). If you don't want to go to the North Pole, you can enjoy Brant Brantley's (of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance) free guided tours of the quicksand field over by High Street where all complaints against judges disappear. If for some reason you are unable to control yourself, never fear; Judge Houston Patton will operate his jail where no lawyers are needed or allowed as you just sit there for minutes... hours.... months...years until he decides he is tired of you sitting in his jail. Do not think Judge Patton is a bad judge however as he plans to serve free Mad Dog 20/20 to all inmates.

Trollfest '09 is a pet-friendly event as well. Feel free to bring your dog with you and do not worry if your pet gets hungry, as employees of the Jackson Zoo will be on hand to provide some of their animals as food when it gets to be feeding time for your little loved one.

Relax at the Fox News Tent. Since there are only three blonde reporters in Jackson (being blonde is a requirement for working at Fox News), Megan and Kathryn from WAPT and Wendy from WLBT will be on loan to Fox. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both and a torn-up Obama yard sign will entitle you to free drinks served by Megan, Wendy, and Kathryn. Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required. Just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '09 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.


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Trollfest '07

Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

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