S.E. 2d
THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA
In The Supreme Court
In the Matter of Alvin
J. Neal, Respondent.
Opinion No. 24709
Submitted October 13, 1997 - Filed October 27, 1997
PUBLIC REPRIMAND
0. Grady Query, of Charleston, for respondent.
Attorney General Charles Molony Condon and
Senior Assistant Attorney General James G. Bogle,
Jr., of Columbia, for the Office of the Disciplinary
Counsel.
PER CURIAM: In this attorney disciplinary matter,
respondent and Disciplinary Counsel have entered into an agreement
under Rule 21, RLDE, Rule 413, SCACR. In the agreement, respondent
admits misconduct and consents to a public reprimand. We accept the
agreement.
In his representation of a plaintiff in a civil action, respondent
failed to reply to interrogatories and requests for production. The
defendants filed a motion to compel production of records, but received no
response. Defendants then obtained a circuit court order directing
respondent to respond to the discovery. Respondent again failed to file a
timely response. Defendants filed a motion to dismiss for respondent's
failure to comply with the circuit court order. The circuit court granted
the motion and dismissed the action.
Respondent admits that he neglected a legal matter by failing
to file timely responses to the discovery requests as directed by the circuit
p. 24
IN THE MATTER OF NEAL
court. Pursuant to Rules 1.1 and 1.3 of the Rules of Professional Conduct,
Rule 407, SCACR, respondent had a duty to represent his client's interests
competently and diligently. Respondent neglected this duty when he failed
to file timely responses to discovery requests.
By violating the Rules of Professional Conduct, respondent has
committed misconduct under Rule 7(a)(1), RLDE. In our opinion,
respondent's misconduct warrants a public reprimand. Accordingly,
respondent is hereby publicly reprimanded for his misconduct.
PUBLIC REPRIMAND.
Burnett, A.J., not participating.
p. 25