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Lawyer's license suspended Friday, Dec 23, 2005 Arkansas News Bureau LITTLE ROCK - A lawyer who owns an Arkansas minor league basketball team had his license suspended for legal misconduct, the state panel that disciplines attorneys said Thursday. Woodson Walker of Little Rock, owner of the Arkansas ArchAngels of the World Basketball Association, was suspended from practicing law for three years for violating five rules governing lawyers' conduct, the state Supreme Court Committee on Professional Conduct said. The charges of misconduct against Walker were made by Reeshema Britt of Little Rock who was injured in a motor vehicle accident on Feb. 8, 2001. Walker began representing Britt in August 2002. On April 21, 2003, his law license was suspended for a year in an unrelated matter. Walker received a settlement offer of $5,500 in Britt's case in June 2003. She declined the offer. After that, Britt had difficulty contacting Walker and later found that he had failed to file a lawsuit on her behalf before a three-year statute of limitations had expired, the committee said. In May 2004, Britt was finally able to meet with Walker, who told her that he would ask that the $5,500 settlement offer be reinstated. He also said he would receive a third of the amount for his fee. Britt refused his offer and hired another lawyer who filed a lawsuit alleging legal malpractice against Walker and his law partner. On April 14, a default judgment for $75,000 was awarded to Britt in Pulaski County Circuit Court. The committee said Thursday that Walker failed to keep his client properly informed, failed to tell her about his license being suspended and did some legal work for her while his license was suspended. He also failed to handle the case in a timely fashion and failed perform his duties to his client's satisfaction, the panel said. The committee's decision also noted that Walker has still not requested that his law license be reinstated from the 2003 suspension. Walker did not immediately return a call to his office seeking comment. The ArchAngels were 16-8 this year in their inaugural season in the WBA. |
