Disciplinary Actions Search
You can click here to search orders of the State Bar's Grievance Committee, the Disciplinary Hearing Commission, and state and federal courts in discipline and disabilty cases.
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From the Winter 2024 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
Jonathan Metcalf of Charlotte neglected two clients, misappropriated client funds, and did not respond to the Grievance Committee. Metcalf surrendered his law license and the DHC entered an order of disbarment.
Suspensions & Stayed Suspensions
Derek Fletcher of Charlotte neglected and failed to communicate with several clients, charged a clearly excessive fee, and did not refund an unearned fee. The DHC entered a consent order suspending Fletcher’s law license for five years, with the opportunity to petition for a stay of the suspension after one year if he complies with conditions.
Richard Batts of Rocky Mount failed to conduct required trust account reconciliations and reviews, failed to maintain accurate client ledgers, failed to deposit entrusted funds into his trust account, failed to promptly transfer entrusted funds received via PayPal to the trust account, failed to make transfers from PayPal to the trust account in a manner that identified the clients whose funds were being deposited and in what amounts, and improperly disbursed funds from the trust account. The DHC imposed a one-year stayed suspension, which Batts has appealed.
Completed Grievance Noncompliance Actions before the DHC
Erin J. Phillips of Cashiers failed to comply with grievance investigations and failed to show good cause for her noncompliance. The DHC entered an order suspending Phillips’ license until she demonstrates that she has complied with the investigations.
Andrew Chafin of Asheboro failed to comply with grievance investigations and failed to show good cause for his noncompliance. The DHC entered an order suspending Chafin’s license until he demonstrates that he has complied with the investigations.
Steven Wright of Wilmington failed to comply with grievance investigations and failed to show good cause for his noncompliance. The DHC entered an order suspending Wright’s license until he demonstrates that he has complied with the investigations.
Interim Suspensions
R. Scott Lindsay of Murphy was convicted of 12 counts of felony obstruction of justice and two counts of misdemeanor obstruction of justice. The DHC entered an order of interim suspension of Lindsay’s license.
Reprimands
Taylor Beamon of Huntersville was reprimanded by the Grievance Committee for undertaking a representation he was not competent to handle, failing to diligently pursue a client’s case, and failing to fully respond to the State Bar’s requests for information.
Francis Collins, formerly of Linden, was reprimanded by the Grievance Committee for creating a conflict of interest by engaging in unacceptable and unprofessional romantic and sexually charged communications with his client.
Jillian Hishaw of Charlotte was reprimanded by the Grievance Committee for filing a frivolous appeal and for engaging in conduct that was prejudicial to the administration of justice by failing to investigate her client’s prior abuse of the court process and failing to review an existing decision of the court concerning proper venue.
Laura Niedosik of West Jefferson failed to verify wiring instructions for a real estate transaction (and/or failed to properly supervise her paralegal in doing so), resulting in entrusted funds being fraudulently wired. The DHC entered a consent order of discipline reprimanding Niedosik.
Completed Petitions for Reinstatement/Stay – Uncontested
In 2019, the DHC imposed a two-year suspension, stayed for two years, based on Brooke Webster’s criminal conviction for secret peeping. In 2020, the suspension was activated for noncompliance with conditions of the stay. Webster was eligible for reinstatement in December 2022, but did not file a petition until 2024. The Office of Counsel did not object to the petition and the DHC entered an order reinstating Webster’s license.
Completed Petitions for Reinstatement/Stay – Contested
Fletcher L. Hartsel Jr. of Concord surrendered his law license and was disbarred by the council in October 2018 due to state and federal convictions for fraud in his solicitation, use, and tax reporting of campaign contributions. After a July 2024 hearing, the DHC recommended that Hartsell be reinstated. Hartsell’s petition will come before the council for consideration after the settled record is transmitted to the secretary of the State Bar.
Transfers to Disability Inactive Status
James F. Morgan of High Point was transferred to disability inactive status by consent this quarter.