In the Supreme Court of Georgia
Decided: July 27, 2015
S15Y1099. IN THE MATTER OF TANYA YVETTE BROCKINGTON.
PER CURIAM.
This disciplinary matter is before the Court on a Notice of Discipline
seeking the disbarment of Tanya Yvette Brockington (State Bar No. 259287)
based on her abandonment of three clients. Brockington, who was admitted to
the Bar in the State of Georgia in 2010, lives and practices in Illinois; she is
currently under an interim suspension from this Court, In the Matter of
Brockington, S14Y0153 (Oct. 6, 2014). The State Bar of Georgia attempted to
serve Brockington personally at the address listed with the State Bar, but the
sheriff filed a return of service non est inventus. The State Bar then sought to
serve Brockington at a residence address, but the sheriff also filed a return of
service non est inventus from that attempt. The State Bar then properly served
Brockington by publication pursuant to Bar Rule 4-203.1 (b) (3) (ii).
Brockington failed to file a Notice of Rejection. Therefore, she is in default, has
waived her rights to an evidentiary hearing, and is subject to such discipline and
further proceedings as may be determined by this Court. See Bar Rule 4-208.1
(b).
The facts, as deemed admitted by virtue of Brockington’s default, show
that, with regard to each matter,1 Brockington was retained to represent a client
in an immigration matter and was paid a retainer. Brockington did minimal
work for each client before abandoning the legal matters entrusted to her.
Thereafter she failed to respond to her clients’ telephone calls and failed to
refund any portion of the unearned fees. She also failed to respond to the
Notices of Investigation, as required by Bar Rule 4-204.3.
Based on these facts, we agree that Brockington has violated Rules 1.2,
1.3, 1.4, 1.16 (d), and 9.3 of the Georgia Rules of Professional Conduct found
in Bar Rule 4-102 (d). The maximum sanction for a violation of Rules 1.2 and
1.3 is disbarment, and the maximum sanction for a violation of Rules 1.4, 1.16
(d), and 9.3 is a public reprimand. In aggravation of discipline, we note that
Brockington received a prior disciplinary sanction, In the Matter of
Brockington, 296 Ga. 438 (768 SE2d 458) (2015).
1
See State Disciplinary Board Docket Nos. 6714, 6715, and 6716.
2
Having reviewed the record, we conclude that disbarment is the
appropriate sanction in this matter. Accordingly, it is hereby ordered that the
name of Tanya Yvette Brockington be removed from the rolls of persons
authorized to practice law in the State of Georgia. Brockington is reminded of
her duties pursuant to Bar Rule 4-219 (c).
Disbarred. All the Justices concur.
3