In the Supreme Court of Georgia
Decided: January 19, 2016
S16Y0241. IN THE MATTER OF DIANNE COOK.
PER CURIAM.
This disciplinary matter is before the Court on the petition of Dianne Cook
(State Bar No. 183600) for voluntary surrender of her license, pursuant to Bar
Rule 4-227 (b). According to her petition, from approximately 2012 on, Cook
has suffered from declining health and cares for her husband, whose health is
also in decline. Both Cook and her husband suffer from neuropathy, which has
made them prone to falling, and this condition, and the injuries suffered as a
result of the falls, have severely limited Cook’s ability to perform normal daily
tasks. Cook, who has been a member of the Bar since 1981, acknowledges that
her law practice has seen a drastic decrease in business since 2012, that she no
longer has any support staff, and that she cannot visit her office regularly. Cook
admits that she was hired by a client in 2012 for representation in a domestic
relations matter and that she was paid $2,232 for that representation. Cook filed
for an uncontested divorce for the client, but the client’s spouse was not
amenable to such a resolution, and the parties went to mediation. Cook attended
the initial mediation session, but, when the issue was not resolved that day,
failed to reschedule mediation and thereafter neglected the client’s case.
Cook acknowledges that her conduct violated Rules 1.3 and 1.4 of the
Georgia Rules of Professional Conduct, see Bar Rule 4-102 (d). The maximum
sanction for a violation of Rule 1.3 is disbarment, and the maximum sanction for
a violation of Rule 1.4 is a public reprimand. Cook states that she no longer
intends to continue practicing law, and asks this Court to accept her petition for
voluntary surrender of her license to practice law. In response, the State Bar
accepts Cook’s characterization of her misconduct and–despite noting in
mitigation that Cook has no prior disciplinary record, has suffered from health
and personal problems, has displayed a cooperative attitude in this disciplinary
proceeding, and has expressed remorse–asks this Court to accept the voluntary
surrender of Cook’s license.
We have reviewed the record and agree to accept Cook’s petition for the
voluntary surrender of her license, which is tantamount to disbarment.
Accordingly, the name of Dianne Cook is hereby removed from the rolls of
persons entitled to practice law in the State of Georgia. Cook is reminded of her
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duties under Bar Rule 4-219 (c).
Voluntary surrender of license accepted. All the Justices concur.
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