Disciplinary Board Disciplinary Actions - Virginia State Bar

Gordon, Esquire, Mr. Robert W. Carter, lay member, Paul Kevin
Campsen, Esquire, Robert William McFarland, Esquire, and
William Hanes Monroe, Jr., Esquire, Chair presiding. The bar
appeared by its Assistant Bar Counsel Paul D. Georgiadis. The
Respondent, Patricia Maria Wright, appeared pro se.
On March 15, 2002, at 9:00 a.m., the Committee heard the
bar’s Show Cause Motion wherein the Respondent was directed
to show cause why this misconduct case should not be set for
hearing in the absence of proof that Respondent fulfilled the
terms set forth by order of Dismissal with Terms of a subcommittee
of the Second District Committee-Section I dated
October 19, 1999. The Respondent, having received due notice
of the hearing and having actual notice of the hearing, did not
appear. Finding that the Respondent did not comply with the
terms of attending four (4) hours of CLE in appellate practice
within six (6) months from the date of the order, the
Committee directed the matter to be heard at the previously
noticed day and time of March 15, 2002, at 9:30 A.M.
Pursuant to Virginia Supreme Court Rules of Court Part Six,
Section IV, Paragraph 13(B)(7) and Council Rule of Disciplinary
Procedure V, the Second District Committee, Section I, of the
Virginia State Bar hereby serves upon the Respondent, Patricia
Maria Wright, the following Public Reprimand.
3 0
I. FINDINGS OF FACT
1. At all times material to these allegations, the Respondent,
Patricia Maria Wright, hereinafter “Respondent”, has been
an attorney licensed to practice law in the Commonwealth
of Virginia.
2. Following the criminal trial of juvenile Laquentie Smith in
Virginia Beach Circuit Court on December 19, 1997, the
Court entered an Order substituting Respondent as counsel
of record. Respondent was retained through Smith’s
mother, Shirley H. Charlton.
3. Following Smith’s sentencing on July 15, 1998, Respondent
noted an appeal on or about August 14, 1998. However,
she failed to file a filing fee at that time or thereafter in
accordance with Rule 5A:6(C) of the Rules of Court.
4. Neither Charlton nor Smith authorized Respondent to
abandon the appeal and at no time did Respondent
move for or obtain leave of court to withdraw from
the re p re s e n t a t i o n .
5. On November 18, 1998, the Virginia Court of Appeals
entered an order of dismissal of this matter for failure to
timely file the filing fee.
6. T h roughout the re p resentation, Respondent failed to
re t u rn Charlton’s telephone calls inquiring about the status
of the appeal.
7. At no time did Respondent advise either Charlton or Smith
of the dismissal of the appeal. Charlton learned of the
November 18, 1998 order dismissing the appeal only
through the VSB Investigator, who advised her on
February 2, 1999. Smith thereafter learned of the dismissal
of his appeal from Charlton.
A u g u s t / S e p t e m b e r 2 0 0 2
disciplinary actions
II. NATURE OF MISCONDUCT
Such conduct on the part of Respondent constitutes misconduct
in violation of the following Disciplinary Rules of the
Virginia Code of Professional Responsibility:
DR 6-101. Competence and Promptness.
(B), (C) and (D) * * *
III. IMPOSITION OF PUBLIC REPRIMAND
Accordingly, it is the decision of the Committee to impose
a Public Reprimand on Respondent, Patricia Maria Wright, and
she is so reprimanded.
Pursuant to Virginia Supreme Court Rules of Court Part 6,
Section IV, 13(K)(10), the Clerk of the Disciplinary System
shall assess costs.
Second District Committee-—Section I
Of the Virginia State Bar
By William Hanes Monroe, Jr
Chair Presiding
■ ■ ■
BEFORE THE SECOND DISTRICT
COMMITTEE-SECTION I
OF THE VIRGINIA STATE BAR
IN THE MATTER OF
PATRICIA MARIA WRIGHT
VSB Docket No. 99-021-0223
DISTRICT COMMITTEE DETERMINATION
(PUBLIC REPRIMAND)
On March 15, 2002, a hearing in this matter was convened
at 9:30 A.M. before a duly convened panel from the Second
District Committee-Section I, consisting of Afshin Farashahi,
Esquire, LaRonda Jean Carter, Attorney at Law, Ray Webb King,
Esquire, Mr. Kurt M. Rosenbach, lay member, Croxton Gordon,
Esquire, Mr. Robert W. Carter, lay member, Paul Kevin
Campsen, Esquire, Robert William McFarland, Esquire, and
William Hanes Monroe, Jr., Esquire, Chair presiding. The bar
appeared by its Assistant Bar Counsel Paul D. Georgiadis. The
Respondent, Patricia Maria Wright, appeared pro se.
On March 15, 2002, at 9:00 a.m., the Committee heard the
bar’s Show Cause Motion wherein the Respondent was directed
to show cause why this misconduct case should not be set for
hearing in the absence of proof that Respondent fulfilled the
terms set forth by order of Dismissal with Terms of a subcommittee
of the Second District Committee-Section I, dated
October 26, 1999. The Respondent, having received due notice
of the hearing and having actual notice of the hearing, did not
appear. Finding that the Respondent did not comply with the
terms of certifying to the bar within thirty (30) days of said
order her establishment of an office policy to include the regular
use of retainer agreements or letters or representation, the
Committee imposed the alternate term of a full hearing on the
alleged misconduct. Thereafter, the matter was directed to be
heard at the previously noticed day and time of March 15,
2002, at 9:30 A.M.
Pursuant to Virginia Supreme Court Rules of Court Part
Six, Section IV, Paragraph 13(B)(7) and Council Rule of