On Tuesday, August 13, 2024, the Supreme Court of Georgia disbarred attorney Anthony O. Van Johnson for violating several rules of professional conduct.
The case is entitled “In the Matter of Anthony O. Van Johnson,” with case no. S24Y1070.
According to the filing, Van Johnson’s actions involved four different clients and disciplinary cases. In one matter, Johnson settled a personal injury case for a client without informing her that he was suspended from practicing law. He then forged the client’s signature on the settlement check and kept the money for himself.
In another case, a client hired and paid Johnson a $3,000 retainer to handle her divorce, but he never filed any paperwork for her case.
In a third matter, Van Johnson was hired to represent a client in a criminal case. However, he failed to show up at her bond hearing after assuring her he would be there. Johnson also did not file his appearance in the case or take any other legal action on her behalf, despite being paid $3,500. In a fourth disciplinary case, Van Johnson was paid additional money to represent the same client in a related juvenile court matter. However, he did little to no substantive work and failed to refund the unearned fees after the case was resolved.
Both the State Bar of Georgia and the special master assigned to evaluate Johnson’s case recommended disbarment as the appropriate sanction. They argued disbarment was consistent with case precedents and guidelines from the American Bar Association regarding violations related to client neglect, deceit, and misuse of client funds.
The Supreme Court accepted Van Johnson’s petition to voluntarily surrender his law license, which is equivalent to disbarment under bar rules. Johnson has now been removed from the state’s list of authorized legal practitioners.
The Disposition states:
“We have reviewed the record and agree to accept Van Johnson’s petition for voluntary discipline where he requests that this Court accept the voluntary surrender of his license, which is tantamount to disbarment.”
According to avvo.com, Mr. Van Johnson was a family attorney in Atlanta, Georgia. He attended Loyola University School of Law and graduated in 1994. He acquired his law license in Georgia in 1996.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
