IN THE SUPREME COURT

STATE OF GEORGIA

DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS

INTHEMATTEROF: ) SUPREME COURT DOCKET NO.

)
WALTER LINTON MOORE, )
State Bar Number 693277, ) STATE DISCIPLINARY BOARD
) DOCKET NO. 7063, 7064, 7065,
Respondent. ) 7066, 7067 & 7081

NOTICE OF DISCIPLINE
The Office of the General Counsel, State Bar of Georgia has been
directed by the Investigative Panel of the State Disciplinary Board to issue a
Notice of Discipline for disbarment against Respondent Walter Linton Moore,
in the above-referenced cases. This Notice is issued pursuant to Bar Rule
4-208.1 of the Rules and Regulations for the Organization and Government of
the State Bar of Georgia. The Investigative Panel shows the Court the
following in support of this Notice:
1.
After full investigation, the Investigative Panel of the State Disciplinary
Board has found probable cause to believe that Respondent has violated
Georgia Rules of Professional Conduct 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.16, 3.2,
8.4(a)(4) and 9.2, and Bar Rule 4-104.
 2.
The facts supporting the Panel's decision are as follows:

State Disciplinary Board Docket No. 7063

a. On April 26, 2016, Eloise Shackleford retained Respondent to
represent her in a civil action.
b. Respondent agreed to represent Ms. Shackleford.
c. Ms. Shackleford paid Respondent $3,600.00 for his services.
d. Respondent advised Ms. Shackleford he would file a Petition for
Modification of Custody, Visitation, and Child Support.
e. Respondent filed the Petition on behalf of Ms. Shackleford on May
13, 2016.
f. The court ordered the case to mediation scheduled for August 8,
2016.
g. Respondent did not properly communicate with Ms. Shackleford
prior to mediation.
h. Respondent failed to appear for the court ordered mediation.
1. Ms. Shackleford terminated Respondent's services and requested a
full refund.
J. Ms. Shackleford states she suspected that Respondent was
impaired during his representation of her.
k. Respondent failed to communicate with Ms. Shackleford.
1. Respondent abandoned the legal matter Ms. Shackleford entrusted
to him to Ms. Shackleford's detriment.
m. Respondent failed to take any action on Ms. Shackleford's behalf.

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n. Respondent failed to refund the fee he was paid that he did not
earn.
o. Ms. Shackleford filed a Fee Arbitration proceeding with the State
Bar of Georgia.
p. Ms. Shackleford was awarded $3,600.00 against Respondent.
q. Based on the evidence presented at the fee arbitration hearing, the
panel of arbitrators concluded that Respondent demonstrates
possible impairment.

State Disciplinary Board Docket No. 7064

a. On June 30, 2016, Natalie Wread retained Respondent to represent
her in a pending civil action.
b. Ms. Wread had previously filed a Petition for Modification of
Child Support.
c. After Respondent entered an appearance in the case, he served
discovery on the opposing party.
d. The defendant subsequently served discovery on Ms. Wread.
e. Respondent failed to prepare answers to defendant's discovery on
behalf of Ms. Wread.
f. On September 26, 2016, the defendant filed a motion to compel
Ms. Wread's discovery responses.
g. Respondent failed to inform Ms. Wread about the motion to
compel.
h. Respondent failed to respond to the motion to compel.

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1. On November 17, 2016, the court granted defendant's motion to
compel, ordered Ms. Wread to respond to discovery, and assessed
attorney's fees against Ms. Wread.
J. Respondent failed to inform Ms. Wread about the court's
November 17 order.
k. Respondent again failed to prepare answers to defendant's
discovery on behalf of Ms. Wread.
1. On February 1, 2017, the defendant filed a motion to strike Ms.
Wread's modification petition.
m. Respondent failed to inform Ms. Wread about the motion to strike.
n. Respondent failed to respond to the motion to strike.
o. The court granted the motion to strike on February 6, 2017, and
awarded additional attorney's fees against Ms. Wread.
p. Respondent failed to inform Ms. Wread about the court's
February 6 order.
q. Respondent failed to communicate with Ms. Wread.
r. Respondent abandoned the legal matter Ms. Wread entrusted to
him to Ms. Wread's detriment.
s. Respondent failed to take any action on Ms. Wread's behalf.

State Disciplinary Board Docket No. 7065

a. On January 30, 2015, Bethany Cuneio retained Respondent to
represent her in a civil action.
b. Respondent agreed to represent Ms. Cuneio.

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 c. Respondent advised Ms. Cuneio he would file a Petition for
Divorce and Petition for Name Change.
d. Respondent filed the divorce petition on behalf of Ms. Cuneio but
failed to perform any work with regard to the name change.
e. Respondent's lack of work on the case delayed resolution of Ms.
Cuneio's divorce.
f. Respondent failed to properly communicate with Ms. Cuneio.
g. Respondent abandoned the legal matter Ms. Cuneio entrusted to
him to Ms. Cuneio' s detriment.
h. Respondent failed to take action on Ms. Cuneio' s behalf with
regard to the name change.

State Disciplinary Board Docket No. 7066

a. On December 15, 2016, Daniel McMickle retained Respondent to
represent him in a civil matter.
b. Respondent agreed to represent Mr. McMickle.
c. Mr. McMickle paid Respondent $1,763.00 for his services.
d. Respondent advised Mr. McMiclde he would file a Petition for
Legitimation, Custody and Child Support on his behalf.
e. Respondent did not file the Petition on behalf of Mr. McMickle.
f. On February 21, 2017, Mr. McMickle terminated Respondent.
g. Mr. McMickle requested his file and a full refund from
Respondent.
h. Respondent failed to properly communicate with Mr. McMickle.

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 1. Respondent abandoned the legal matter Mr. McMickle entrusted to
him to Mr. McMickle's detriment.
J. Respondent failed to provide Mr. McMickle's file to him.
k. Respondent failed to take any action on Mr. McMickle's behalf.
1. Respondent failed to refund the fee he was paid that he did not
earn.

State Disciplinary Board Docket No. 7067

a. On November 22, 2016, Dontavious Heath retained Respondent to
represent him in a civil matter.
b. Respondent agreed to represent Mr. Heath.
c. Mr. Heath paid Respondent $3,399.00 for his services.
d. Respondent advised Mr. Heath he would file a Petition for
Legitimation, Custody and Child Support on his behalf.
e. Respondent did not file the Petition on behalf of Mr. Heath.
f. Respondent failed to appear for a scheduled hearing in Mr. Heath's
case.
g. Respondent failed to take any action on Mr. Heath's behalf.
h. Respondent failed to properly communicate with Mr. Heath.
1. Respondent abandoned the legal matter Mr. Heath entrusted to him
to Mr. Heath's detriment.
J. On May 5, 2017, Mr. Heath terminated Respondent and requested
his file.

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 k. Respondent agreed to refund Mr. Heath in full in exchange for Mr.
Heath withdrawing his grievance and signing a dismissal of his
complaint against Respondent.
1. On July 19, 2017, Mr. Heath signed an agreement resolving the
grievance in exchange for a refund of $3,500.

State Disciplinary Board Docket No. 7081

a. On January 16, 2016, Denae Crawford retained Respondent to
represent her in a civil matter.
b. Respondent agreed to represent Ms. Crawford.
c. Respondent advised Ms. Crawford he would file a Petition for
Temporary Guardianship on her behalf.
d. Ms. Crawford paid Respondent $2,267.50 for his services.
e. Respondent misled Ms. Crawford by telling her he had filed the
Petition.
f. Respondent never filed the Petition on behalf of Ms. Crawford.
g. After Ms. Crawford threatened to terminate representation,
Respondent scheduled a hearing Ms. Crawford's case for April27,
2017.
h. Respondent failed to appear for the scheduled hearing in Ms.
Crawford's case.
1. Respondent failed to properly communicate with Ms. Crawford.
J. Respondent abandoned the legal matter Ms. Crawford entrusted to
him to Ms. Crawford's detriment.
k. Respondent failed to take any action on Ms. Crawford's behalf.

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 1. Respondent failed to refund the fee he was paid that he did not
earn.

3.
The Investigative Panel has determined that the appropriate disciplinary
sanction to be imposed upon Respondent is disbarment.
4.
Bar Rule 4-208.2(a)(4) requires that the Panel state the reasons that it
recommends that Respondent be disbarred. In aggravation of the level of
discipline to be imposed in these cases, the Investigative Panel considered the
following factors:
(a) Respondent acted willfully in collecting a fee from the
complainants then abandoned their legal matters.
(b) Respondent acted with a selfish motive.
(c) Respondent demonstrated a pattern of misconduct.
(d) Respondent has multiple offenses.
(e) Respondent has refused to acknowledge the wrongful nature
of his conduct.
5.
Bar Rule 4-208.3 as amended is attached hereto as Exhibit "A" and
incorporated by this reference.
6.
As required by Bar Rule 4-208.2(a)(6), the Memorandums of Grievance
filed with the State Bar are attached hereto as Exhibits "B" through "G", and
incorporated by this reference.

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 7.
As required by Bar Rule 4-208.2(a)(7), Respondent's disciplinary history
is as follows:
(a) Respondent has no prior disciplinary history.

WHEREFORE, the State Bar of Georgia prays that this Court enter an
order disbarring Respondent.

This 4-\~ day ofDecember, 201 .

OITlSOn
Assistant General Counsel
State Bar Number 470074

STATE BAR OF GEORGIA

Office of the General Counsel
104 Marietta Street, NW
Suite 100
Atlanta, Georgia 30303
(404) 527-8720

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