' CAUSE NO. DC-1 6-13821 COMMISSION FOR LAWYER DISCIPLINE IN THE DISTRICT COURT WWWWWW v. DALLAS COUNTY, TEXAS CHRISTOPHER L. GRAHAM 193R JUDICIAL DISTRICT JUDGMENT OF DISBARMENT Parties and Appearance On November 28, 2017, came to be heard the above-styled and numbered cause. Petitioner, COMMISSION FOR LAWYER DISCIPLINE, appeared by and through its attorney of record and announced ready. Respondent, CHRISTOPHER L. GRAHAM (Respondent), Texas Bar Number 24047549, appéared in person, pro se, and announced ready. The Court considered and granted Petitioner s Motion for Partial Summary Judgment and Brief in Support. and Supplemental Brief in Support, and determined that Respondent s conduct constituted professional misconduct. A sanctions hearing was then conducted by the Court. Jurisdiction and Venue On October 21, 2016, pursuant to Rule 3.02 of the TEXAS RULES 0F DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURE, the SUPREME COURT 0F TEXAS appointed the Honorable Jefferson Moore to preside over this disciplinary action. The Courtfinds that it hasjurisdiction overthe parties and the subject matter ofthis action, and thatvenue is proper in the District Court ofdallas County, Texas. Judgment of Partially Probated Suspension-Norman Page 1 of 6
Professional Misconduct The Court, having con'sidered and granted Petitioner s Motion for Partial Summary Judgment and Brief in Support. and Supplemental Brief in Support, finds that Respondent has committed Professional Misconduct as defined by Rule 1.06(W) of the TEXAS RULES 0F DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURE by violating TEXAS DISCIPLINARY RULES 0F PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT 3.03(a)(1). 8.02(a) and 8.04(a)(3). The allegations of professional misconduct were brought to the attention of the State Bar of Texas by a complaint filed by The Honorable Stephanie Mitchell. Sancfion The Court, having found that Respondent has committed Professional Misconduct, heard and considered additional evidence regarding the appropriate sanction to be imposed against Respondent. After hearing evidence and argument and after having considered the factors in Rule 3.10 of the TEXAS RULES 0F DISClPLINARY PROCEDURE, the Ceurt finds that the appropriate sanction is DISBARMENT. Disbarment It is therefore ORDERED, ADJUDGED, and DECREED that effective immediately, Respondent, CHRISTOPHER L. GRAHAM, State Bar No. 24047549, is hereby DISBARRED from the practice of law in the State of Texas. It is further 0RbERED, ADJUDGED, and DECREED that Respondent is permanently enjoined from practicing law in Texas, holding himself out as an attorney, performing any legal services for others, accepting any fee directly or indirectly for legal services, appearing as counsel or in any representative capacity in any proceeding in any Texas court or before any Texas administrative body, or holding himself out to others or Judgment of Partially Probated Suspension-Norman Page 2 of 6
using his name in any matter in conjunction with the words attorney," "attorney at Iaw," counselor at law, or lawyer. Notification It is further ORDERED Respondent shall immediately notify each of his current clients in writing of this disbarment. In addition to such notification, Respondent is ORDERED to return all files, papers, money, including unearned fees, and other property belonging to clients and former clients in Respondent s possession to the respective clients or former clients or to another attorney at the client s or former client's request. ' Respondent is ORDERED to file with this Court and the STATE BAR 0F TEXAS, Chief Disciplinary Counsel's Office, P.O. Box 1248-7, Austin, TX 7871 1-2487 (1414 Colorado, Austin, TX 78701) within thirty (30) days of the signing of this Judgment, an affidavit stating that all current clients have been notified of Respondent s disbarment and that all files, papers, money, including unearned fees, and other property belonging to.clients and former clients have been returned as ordered in this Judgment, together with a true and correct copy of any communication directed to the clients and a list setting forth the names and addresses of the intended recipients of the communications. In the event Respondent is enable to comply in any respect with this requirement, he shall state with particularity under oath what client or clients he was unable to contact and what efforts he made to comply with this order. lt is further ORDERED that within thirty (30) days of the signing of this Judgment, Respondent shall notify in writing each and every justice of the peace, judge, magistrate, administrative judge or officer, and chiefjustice of each and every court or tribunal in which Respondent has any matter pending of the terms of this Judgment, the style and cause Judgment of Disbarment-Graham Page 3 of 6
number of the pending matter(s), and the name, address and telephone number of the client(s) Respondent is representing. Respondent is ORDERED to file with the STATE BAR 0F TEXAS, Chief Disciplinary Counsel s Office. P.O. Box 12487, Austin, TX 78711-2487 (1414 Colorado, Austin, TX 78701) within thirty (30) days from the signing of this Judgment. an affidavit stating that each and everyjustice of the peace, judge, magistrate, administrative judge or office, and chief justice has received written notice of the terms of this judgment. Surrender of License It is further ORDERED, ADJUDGED, and DECREED that Respondent shall, instanter, surrender his Texas law license and permanent State Bar Card to the STATE BAR 0F TEXAS, Chief Disciplinary Counsel s Office, P.O. Box 12487, Austin, TX 78711-2487 (1414 Colorado, Austin, TX 7870-1), for transmittal to the CLERK 0F THE SUPREME COURT 0F TEXAS. Attorney s Fees and Expenses It is further ORDERED Respondent shall pay all reasonable and necessary attorney s fees and direct expenses to the State Bar of Texas in the amount of Nine Thousand Nine Hundred Sixteen Dollars and Ninety Three Cents ($9,916.93). The payment shall be due and payable on or before January 2, 2018 and shall be made by certified or cashier's check or money order. Respondent shall forward the funds, made payable to the State Bar oftexas, tothe STATEBAR0FTEXAS, Chief Disciplinary Counsel s Office, P.O. Box 12487, Austin, TX 7871 1-2487 (1414 Colorado, Austin, TX 78701). It is furtherordered that all amounts ordered herein aredue tothe misconduct of Respondent and are assessed as a part ofthe sanction in accordance with Rule 1.06(Z) of Judgment of DisbarmentGraham Page 4 of 6
the TEXAS RULES 0F DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURE. Any amount not paid shall accrue interest at the maximum legal rate perannum until paid and the State BarofTexas shall have all writs and other post judgment remedies against Respondent in order to collect all unpaid amounts. Conditions Precedent to Reinstatement It is further ORDERED payment of the foregoing attorney s fees and expenses shall be a condition precedent to any consideration of reinstatement from disbarment as provided by Rule 11.02(D) of the TEXAS RULES 0F DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURE. Publication It is further ORDERED, ADJUDGED, and DECREED that this disbarment shall be made a matter of public record, and it shall be published in the Texas Bar Journal. Other Relief It is further ORDERED that the Clerk of this Court shall fonnard one (1) certified copy ofthe First-AmendedDisciplinary Petition on file in this case, along with a copy ofthis Judgment to the following: (1) CLERKOFTHE SUPREME COURT oi: TEXAS, P.O. Box 12248, Austin, Texas, 78711-2248; (2) STATE BAR 0F TEXAS, Office of the Chief Disciplinary Counsel, P.O. Box_ 12487, Austin, TX 78711-2487; and (3) Respondent, Christopher L. Graham, P. O. 226265, Dallas, Texas 75222-6265. lt is further ORDERED that the Clerk of this Court shall forward two (2) certified copies of the First-Amended Disciplinary Petition on file in this case, along with two (2) certified copies of this Judgment, to the STATE BAR 0F TEXAS, attention L. Guerra, Assistant Disciplinary Counsel, The Princeton, 14651 Dallas Parkway, Suite 925, Dallas, Texas 75254. Judgment of Dlsbarment-Graham Page 5 of 6
It is ORDERED that all costs of court incurred in the prosecution of this lawsuit shall be taxed against Respondent, forwhich the Clerkmay have execution ifthey are nottimely paid. All relief not expressly granted herein is expressly DENIED. :1w. SIGNED this day of November, 2017. T e Ho qiable Jefferson Moore ud _ " yipi'esiding by Appointment Judgment of Disbarment-Graham Page 6 of 6