Attorney: Kay Paschal
Location: Columbia
Bar membership: Member since 1968
Disciplinary action: Suspended from the practice of law for three years on May 13, retroactive to the date of her interim suspension
Background: From 1986 until 1997, Paschal represented a client on a variety of legal matters while also maintaining a secret, sexual relationship with the client’s husband. During this time, the husband was providing Paschal with personal financial support. Paschal did not disclose the affair, the extent of financial support, or the resulting conflict of interest to the wife. There is no evidence that Paschal took any action adverse to, or otherwise compromised, the wife’s legal interests. Paschal also represented the husband on a variety of legal matters during the time she was maintaining a sexual relationship with him and participated as a principal in various joint ventures and property investments to which the husband was an investor, officer, or partner. Paschal did not disclose to him the conflicts of interest arising from these various relationships and transactions.
Previous discipline: Paschal was publicly reprimanded in September 2003 and had been on interim suspension since January 2012
Attorney: Douglas Francis Gay
Location: Rock Hill
Bar membership: Member since 1981
Disciplinary action: Suspended from the practice of law for three years on May 13, retroactive to the date of his interim suspension
Background: Gay self-reported his arrest for twelve counts of failure to pay state withholding taxes and was placed on interim suspension. He subsequently pleaded guilty to three counts of a lesser included offense and was sentenced to one year imprisonment, suspended upon the service of two years of probation. Also, Gay failed to diligently pursue a client’s criminal appeal despite multiple letters from the court clearly explaining that Gay was still responsible for the client’s appeals and needed to take action. In another matter, Gay failed to pay bills owed to a mediator despite repeated requests made for more than 18 months, claiming he was not in a financial position to resolve the debt. After he was placed on interim suspension, Gay spoke with a farmer about a potential foreclosure, violating the order placing him on interim suspension.
Previous discipline: Gay was publicly reprimanded in July 2010 and had been on interim suspension since January 2012
Attorney: Max B. Singleton
Location: Greer
Bar membership: Member since 2004
Disciplinary action: Suspended from the practice of law for nine months on May 13
Background: Singleton failed to appear in court on behalf of a client for a traffic matter and the client resolved the matter himself. He failed to refund the unearned fees to the client, and after being ordered to pay the client $700 by the Resolution of Fee Disputes Board, did not pay the award, claiming he lacked the funds to do so. He also failed to timely pay an invoice from a court reporting agency, again citing a lack of funds. Singleton was also was not diligent in representing or communicating with some of his clients, or in responding to disciplinary actions against him. The Supreme Court had previously issued an order of discipline against Singleton with conditions, and he failed to comply with some of those conditions. Singelton’s suspension is not retroactive.
Previous discipline: Singleton was publicly reprimanded in December 2011 and had been on interim suspension since November 2014
Magistrate: Angel Catina Underwood
Location: Chester County
Bar membership: Not an attorney
Disciplinary action: Placed on interim suspension on May 8
Background: The Office of Disciplinary Counsel had filed a petition asking the Supreme Court to place Underwood on interim suspension. No other background was provided.
Previous discipline: None listed
All information contained in the Bar Discipline Roundup is compiled from orders issued by the South Carolina Supreme Court and edited by staff writer David Donovan. He can be reached at david.donovan@sclawyersweekly.com