Lawyer Gets Three-Year Suspension After Someone Settles Cases Without Her Knowledge
A onetime Georgia lawyer who closed her solo practice in 2009 and moved to Florida has been suspended for three years after three cases were settled without her knowledge.
Tara Susann Wofford had filed a petition for voluntary discipline that sought a retroactive suspension of one to three years, according to a Georgia Supreme Court opinion (PDF) issued Monday. The Legal Profession Blog notes the decision.
Wofford told disciplinary authorities she’s not sure who accepted the clients and settled the auto accident cases, but she did fear for her safety when she tried to stop the imposter from operating her former firm.
“Ms. Wofford states that she never met with, spoke with, worked for or had any interchange with these three clients,” the opinion says. In two cases, the clients didn’t receive any settlement funds. In a third, the client received money, but a chiropractor never received earmarked proceeds.
Wofford had relied on an office manager to close her law firm and place files in storage, and had failed to inform clients and third parties she was shutting down her law practice, the opinion says. She also failed to ensure that former clients received their case files and that bank accounts were closed properly.
The suspension dates to June 2009 when Wofford closed the firm. Reinstatement is conditioned on findings that she is not impaired and is competent to practice law.
