Disciplinary Actions Search
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Most Recent Actions
From the Spring 2025 Journal
NOTE: More than 32,500 people are licensed to practice law in North Carolina. Some share the same or similar names. All public orders of discipline may be located on the State Bar’s website.
Disbarments
James C. Worthington Sr. of Prospect, Kentucky, used information obtained in his capacity as trustee to make unauthorized wire withdrawals from funds held in his trust account for six separate estates and converted the embezzled funds to his personal use. He was convicted of one count of wire fraud in the Federal District Court for the Western District of Kentucky and sentenced to 41 months in prison. He surrendered his law license and was disbarred by the council.
R. Scott Lindsay of Murphy was convicted in Macon County Superior Court of 12 counts of felony obstruction of justice and two counts of misdemeanor obstruction of justice. He surrendered his law license and was disbarred by the Wake County Superior Court.
Completed Grievance Noncompliance Actions before the DHC
On March 13, 2025, the chair of the DHC suspended the law license of Jonathon Speight of Smithfield for non-compliance with the grievance process.
On March 18, 2025, the chair of the DHC suspended the law license of Tabitha Etheridge of Whiteville for non-compliance with the grievance process.
Completed Grievance Review Panels
Three Grievance Review Panels were held this quarter. The panels affirmed the original disposition in two files and remanded one file with a recommendation for private, rather than public, discipline.
Orders of Reciprocal Discipline
Travis Sasser of Cary was reprimanded by the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina for making a misrepresentation to the court and failing to take reasonable remedial measures to correct the fraudulent conduct. The court also imposed a monetary sanction of $1,000. The Grievance Committee entered an order of reciprocal discipline, reprimanding Sasser.
Censures
Prentice Kelly Dawkins of Southern Pines did not participate in the State Bar’s mandatory fee dispute resolution process, did not provide a full and fair response to the Grievance Committee, and did not timely produce subpoenaed records. Dawkins was censured by the Grievance Committee.
James E. Hairston Jr. of Raleigh charged a clearly excessive fee; lacked a sufficient understanding of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, federal filing practices, and the Rules of Professional Conduct; did not consult with his client about crucial decisions in the case; did not respond to several of the opposing parties’ pleadings; did not file the amended complaint timely and did not seek leave of court to file the amended complaint; did not provide copies of pleadings to his client; did not keep his client reasonably informed about the status of the matter despite the client’s repeated inquiries; did not provide his client notice of his intent to withdraw from the representation; did not take necessary actions to protect his client’s interests upon termination of the representation; and did not adequately supervise a subordinate attorney. Hairston was censured by the Grievance Committee.
Reprimands
Assata K. Buffaloe of Tarboro did not clearly explain the scope of her representation, did not keep her client informed of the status of the legal matter, and did not publish notice to creditors but retained funds provided to her for that purpose. She was reprimanded by the Grievance Committee.
Richard Dundas Allen of Pittsboro did not act with reasonable diligence and promptness, did not timely disburse settlement funds, did not keep his client reasonably informed of the status of the funds, did not maintain accurate trust account records, did not conduct required reconciliations of his trust account, and did not respond timely to the Grievance Committee. He was reprimanded by the Grievance Committee.
Completed Petitions for Reinstatement/Stay – Uncontested
The DHC entered a consent order transferring Stephanie Villaver of Jacksonville from disability inactive status to active status. Villaver is now serving the stayed suspension imposed in 17DHC3.
Authorized Practice Committee Actions
Matthew Morris, the CEO of registered website document provider EncorEstate Plans, received a letter of caution for exceeding the confines of permissible activities under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 84-2.2 by preparing deeds.
Matthew Corsi, who served a notice of appeal while assisting a family member with a civil lawsuit, received a letter of caution.
Kristy Murrell- Murrell, who completed immigration legal documents for others, received a letter of caution.