On Friday, November 22, 2024, the Supreme Court of Maryland issued a ruling disbarring attorney Francis Edward Yeatman following multiple violations of the Maryland Attorneys’ Rules of Professional Conduct. The court’s decision was based on findings of serious misconduct stemming from Yeatman’s handling of two client matters, which included a lack of communication and client abandonment.
The case is entitled “Attorney Grievance Commission of Maryland v. Francis Edward Yeatmen,” with case no. 42.
The case stemmed from a petition filed by the Attorney Grievance Commission on February 20, 2024. The petition accused Yeatman of violating several rules, including competence, diligence, communication, and misconduct. The allegations specifically arose from his representation of two clients in estate matters, where Yeatman failed to maintain communication and ultimately neglected his responsibilities.
Yeatman was responsible for the estate of Ben Petree. After Petree’s death in July 2017, his daughter, Caroline Petree Iglehart, was appointed as the personal representative of the estate and retained Yeatman for legal assistance. However, between June 2020 and April 2021, Yeatman failed to respond to multiple emails and communications from Iglehart and her family regarding the estate’s administration and the payment of bills related to the property.
The situation escalated to the point where the Register of Wills for Montgomery County issued a “Show Cause Referral” due to the failure to file necessary documentation. After a series of hearings, Yeatman finally submitted a Fourth and Final Administration Account in May 2021, but not before significant delays led to court intervention.
In addition to the Petree estate, Yeatman was also involved with the estate of Margaret McNulty. After McNulty’s death in August 2012, Yeatman was tasked with administering her trust, which included distributing assets to several charities. Despite initial distributions, he failed to provide a final distribution or respond to repeated requests for updates from the beneficiaries over several years.
The Attorney Grievance Commission received complaints from both Iglehart and representatives of the Priests of the Sacred Heart, one of the charities named in McNulty’s trust. An investigation by Bar Counsel revealed Yeatman’s consistent lack of communication and unresponsiveness to inquiries regarding the estates. Yeatman’s failure to reply to Bar Counsel’s requests for information further compounded these issues, leading to allegations of bad faith obstruction of the disciplinary process.
In response to the complaints, the Supreme Court of Maryland designated the Honorable Sharon V. Burrell to serve as the hearing judge. Burrell found clear and convincing evidence that Yeatman had violated multiple rules related to his professional conduct. The court determined that Yeatman’s actions constituted a pattern of neglect and failure to uphold his duties as an attorney, resulting in harm to his clients and a breach of public trust.
Despite testifying at the hearing, Yeatman did not adequately address the complaints or provide justifications for his lack of communication. He claimed he had retired and had not practiced law for two years, suggesting that if he ceased practicing, the complaints would be resolved. However, the court found this argument unconvincing in light of the substantial evidence against him.
The hearing judge noted several aggravating factors, including Yeatman’s extensive experience in the legal field, which underscored the severity of his violations. Ultimately, the court concluded that disbarment was the appropriate sanction given the nature of the misconduct and the impact on his clients.
The Disposition states:
“For the reasons discussed above, we conclude that Respondent violated Rules 1.1, 1.3, and (3), 8. I(b), and 8.4(a) and (d). We order that Respondent be disbarred.”
According to avvo.com, Mr. Yeatman was an estate planning attorney in Bethesda, Maryland. He acquired his law license in Maryland in 1962.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
