IN RE: Douglas Harry PIKE. (1999)

This disciplinary matter is before the Court on the special master's recommendation that Respondent Douglas Harry Pike be disbarred for violations of the following disciplinary standards of Bar Rule 4-102(d):  Standard 4 (lawyer shall not engage in professional conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or wilful misrepresentation);  22 (lawyer shall not withdraw from employment until he has taken reasonable steps to avoid foreseeable prejudice to the rights of his client and delivered all papers and property to which the client is entitled);  44 (lawyer shall not wilfully abandon or disregard a legal matter entrusted to him);  and 45 (lawyer shall not knowingly make a false statement of law or fact).   The State Bar filed a Formal Complaint against Pike, which it ultimately served by publication, personal service to the address on Pike's State Bar records having resulted in a return marked “Non Est Inventus.”   Pike failed to file an answer and the State Bar moved for default.   The special master granted the motion, finding the facts alleged and violations charged in the Formal Complaint deemed admitted under Bar Rule 4-212(a).

Pike was hired to represent a party in a lawsuit and accepted $5,000 to be earned as the case progressed.   Although he filed the action on the client's behalf, Pike repeatedly failed to respond to his client's requests for information on the progress of the case and failed to advise his client that discovery requests had been served.   When the client found out the case had been dismissed due to failure to respond to discovery, Pike falsely denied knowledge of the dismissal and offered to investigate and report to the client, which he failed to do.   Pike also falsely told the client he had sent a statement indicating that the $5,000 had been exhausted.   When the client discharged Pike, Pike failed to deliver to the client the papers and property to which he was entitled.

We agree with the special master that, by virtue of his default and deemed admissions, Pike has violated Standards 4, 22, 44 and 45 of Bar Rule 4-102(d).   While a violation of Standard 22 is punishable only by a public reprimand, violations of Standards 4, 44 and 45 are punishable by disbarment.   We agree with the special master that, given Pike's decade-long career as a Georgia lawyer and the number of serious offenses in this case, the appropriate sanction is disbarment.

Accordingly, Douglas Harry Pike is hereby disbarred from the practice of law in the State of Georgia.   He is reminded of his duties under Bar Rule 4-219(c).

Disbarred.

PER CURIAM.

All the Justices concur.