This disciplinary matter is before the Court on the Petition for Voluntary Discipline filed by Respondent Michael F. Greene (State Bar No. 307901) in which he requests a suspension of between 18 and 24 months, with conditions, for his admitted violations of Rules 1.3, 1.4, 1.15 (I), 1.15 (II), 1.16 (d), and 8.4 of the Georgia Rules of Professional Conduct found in Bar Rule 4-102 (d). The State Bar recommends that the Court accept the petition, which would resolve two disciplinary matters.
In the petition Greene, who has been a member of the State Bar since 1993, admits that in one matter he was retained by a client in a case arising out of an automobile accident. Greene settled the case but did not fully remit all the funds that were due to the insurance provider, resulting in the insurance agent contacting the client, who filed a grievance against Greene. Thereafter, Greene fully compensated his client, as the insurance agent indicated the provider was not interested in asserting any claim against the funds. Greene admits that he violated all the Rules set forth above. In the second matter, a client retained Greene to represent him in a case involving the client’s company. Greene failed to appear on the date the case was called for trial, and judgment was entered against his client. After the grievance
Having reviewed the record, we agree that acceptance of Greene’s petition is appropriate given the facts admitted, the evidence he submitted regarding his health issues and the mitigating factors. Accordingly, we accept the Petition for Voluntary Discipline and direct that Michael F. Greene be suspended from the practice of law in Georgia for a period of 18 months from the date of this opinion. The suspension shall be lifted only upon Greene providing to the Office of the General Counsel of the State Bar proper certification from a licensed psychiatrist that he has no impairment or conditions that would affect his ability to practice law, and the certification shall be dated no more than three months prior to the date of the end of his 18-month suspension. He shall submit his petition for reinstatement to the Review Panel for issuance of a report and recommendation to this Court, and he shall not undertake the practice of law until this Court issues an opinion granting or denying his petition for reinstatement, see In the Matter of Fair,
Petition for voluntary discipline accepted. Eighteen-month suspension with conditions.