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SUPREME COURT OF LOUISIANA NO. 97-B-1002 IN RE: EDDIE G. CRAWFORD DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS PER CURIAM* On March 12, 1996, respondent, Eddie G. Crawford, an attorney licensed to practice law in the State of Louisiana, was charged by the Office of Disciplinary Counsel ("ODC") with one count of formal charges. The charges alleged instances of neglect,

failing to communicate with clients, failing to inform his clients of his suspensions from the practice of law, obtaining substitute counsel without obtaining his clients' consent, and failing to return an unearned fee or provide an accounting in violation of Rules 1.3, 1.4, 1.16(d), and 8.4(a) and (c) of the Rules of Professional Conduct. A review of the underlying facts indicates that on

February 2, 1994, Donna Comeaux Anderson and Carl Anderson, Sr. paid respondent $500 to represent them in connection with a stepparent adoption of Mrs. Anderson's son. Mr. Anderson was in the

United States Army and was to be transferred to Hawaii in July of 1994. Therefore, the Andersons advised respondent that completion

of the adoption matter by June of 1994 was of critical importance due to the family's relocation. On April 22, 1994, respondent prepared and filed the petition with the clerk of court. However, the judge was not

available to sign the order setting the home study appointment, and respondent left the order with the judge's staff. The order was

not signed until June 3, 1994 and, as a result, the home study was completed with Mrs. Anderson and the child only, because Mr. Anderson had already been transferred. A second hearing was set

for July 22, 1994, after Mrs. Anderson and her son had already moved to Hawaii.
*

Respondent failed to appear at this hearing.
Rule IV, Part 2,

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