AUSTIN — The State Bar of Texas has released its latest disciplinary actions report, showing that one attorney has been disbarred while several more have been suspended.
According to the report, on April 6 Jason Rowe of Houston received a judgment of disbarment. An evidentiary panel found that Rowe, in representing his client, neglected the legal matter entrusted to him and failed to explain the legal matter to the extent reasonably necessary to permit his client to make informed decisions regarding the representation.
Rowe also failed to hold funds belonging in whole or in part to his client separate from his own property and, upon request by his client, failed to promptly render a full accounting.
He was ordered to pay $900,000 in restitution and $7,900 in attorney’s fees and costs.
On June 24, Jennifer Zarka of Florida accepted a three-year fully probated suspension. An evidentiary panel found that Zarka failed to keep her client reasonably informed or comply with reasonable requests for information, failed to properly safeguard client property, and failed to protect a client’s interests upon termination of the representation.
On July 20, Ramon Serna of Universal City accepted a nine-month fully probated suspension. An investigatory panel found that Serna neglected client matters, and failed to hold and safeguard clients’ funds in a separate trust account, and failed to take steps reasonably practicable in order to timely surrender the client file and any unearned fees that the clients were entitled to receive.
On July 31, Barry Efron of San Antonio accepted a one-year fully probated suspension. An investigatory panel found that Efron failed to keep a client reasonably informed and promptly comply with reasonable requests for information, failed to timely deliver a client file that was entitled, and failed to respond to the grievance in a timely manner.
Efron agreed to pay $2,000 in attorney’s fees and direct expenses.
On Aug. 10, G. Darrett of Dallas agreed to an 18-month fully probated suspension. An investigatory panel found that the complainant retained Darrett and paid a flat fee of $5,950 for limited representation in a family law matter.
In representing the complainant, Darrett neglected the legal matter entrusted to her by failing to timely file required disclosures, as well as witness and exhibit lists. She was ordered to pay $750 in attorney’s fees and direct expenses.
On Aug. 13, John Goyen of Addison agreed to a four-year partially probated suspension, with the first two years actively suspended and the remainder probated. An investigatory panel found that on or about September 9, 2022, the complainant hired Goyen to represent her in a personal injury matter.
In representing the complainant, Goyen neglected the legal matter entrusted to him, in that he failed to submit the complainant’s medical documentation in support of her claims for compensation or perform any other work on the disciplinary actions case after filing it.
He was ordered to pay $22,503 in restitution and $750 in attorney’s fees and direct expenses.
On Aug. 18, Jose Tellez of Laredo accepted a six-month fully probated suspension. The 49th Judicial District Court of Webb County found that Tellez committed professional misconduct by violating the Texas Rules of Professional Conduct. He was ordered to pay $1,800 in attorney’s fees and direct expenses.
