AUSTIN — More than a half dozen attorneys have received suspensions, according to the State Bar of Texas.
The Bar has released its disciplinary actions report for August, which lists Jeffery C. King, a Dallas attorney, as the first suspension.
An evidentiary panel found that King entered into an agreed judgment of public reprimand, in which he was ordered to pay $30,000 in restitution and to complete five additional hours of continuing legal education in the area of military law.
On June 16, Lee B. Westmoreland of Nacogdoches received a one-year partially probated suspension. An evidentiary panel found that the complainant filed a grievance against Westmoreland. Thereafter, he failed to timely furnish to the Office of Chief Disciplinary Counsel a response.
On June 24, Lauren Harris of Dallas received a 12-month partially probated suspension. An evidentiary panel found that Harris was engaged in April 2019 to represent the complainant and to represent the complainant’s sister as defendant and counter-plaintiff in a civil suit.
In representing the complainant’s sister and the complainant, Harris neglected the legal matter entrusted to her by failing to pursue a matter with reasonable diligence and promptness, to perform work on the case, and to appear for a trial.
June 29, Anton P. Hajek III of San Antonio accepted a 12-month fully probated suspension. An investigatory panel found that Hajek failed to explain matters to the extent reasonably necessary to permit the client to make informed decisions regarding the representation, knowingly revealed confidential client information of a former client, and represented that client when the representation of that client reasonably appeared to be or became adversely limited by his own interests.
On June 29, Bethel Zehaie of Arlington received a 36-month partially probated suspension effective. An evidentiary panel found that in the first matter, Zehaie represented the complainant in a criminal matter and failed to keep the complainant reasonably informed about the status of his criminal matter and failed to promptly comply with reasonable requests for information from the complainant.
She was ordered to pay $3,500 in restitution and $1,000 in attorney’s fees and direct expenses.
On July 15, Michael Casaretto of Marlin accepted a one-year fully probated suspension. An evidentiary panel found that Casaretto was appointed to represent a defendant on criminal charges pending in Falls County. The defendant submitted a complaint against Casaretto arising from that representation.
He was personally served with notice of the complaint but failed to furnish a response. He was ordered to pay $1,000 in attorney’s fees and expenses.
On July 13, Nicholas Smith of Rockwall received a 30-month fully probated suspension. An evidentiary panel found that the complainant hired Smith in August 2023 and paid $1,000 for preparation of a small estate affidavit that the complainant would then file himself.
Smith neglected the legal matter entrusted to him by not adequately preparing the affidavit or remedying it. Smith did not keep the client reasonably informed about the status of the matter and did not promptly comply with reasonable requests for information. Smith did not deposit and/or hold legal fees in a trust account and or client funds separate until fully earned.
He was ordered to pay $1,000 in restitution and $325 in attorney’s fees and direct expenses.
