In the Matter of Walter Douglas Adams

Summary

The Court upheld the findings that Walter Douglas Adams violated multiple professional-conduct rules in handling a client's settlement, including duties concerning communication, fees, trust-account management, file turnover, and cooperation with the disciplinary process. It rejected Adams's challenges to default, due process, and the finding that the representation was subject to a contingency-fee arrangement. The Court nevertheless concluded that disbarment was excessive and imposed a one-year suspension conditioned on restitution of $2,732.81.