Sedona AZ – The Presiding Disciplinary Judge of the Arizona Supreme Court ordered that attorney Scott A. MacLeod of Sun City be disbarred after abandoning clients, keeping client funds, and failing to comply with the State Bar of Arizona investigation.
In the first matter, MacLeod was retained by his client to represent her in divorce proceedings and simultaneous order of protection against her husband, for which she paid $5,700. After filing the initial petition of dissolution and appearing at a status conference with his client, he filed several continuances and ultimately abandoned the client. The client had to hire successor counsel to prepare accurate documents.
In the second matter, MacLeod’s client paid him $2,390 to represent him in a divorce case, but he failed to provide a written fee agreement or inform the client he had filed a Notice of Limited Scope Appearance. He then requested additional fees including a court filing fee, which the client was told was included in the initial payment. MacLeod then stopped responding to the client, who had to hire successor counsel.
In the third matter, MacLeod was hired to represent his client in divorce proceedings. After he failed to show at trial, the judge assigned to the case held him in contempt for failing to file a Pre-Trial Statement. The judge also detailed MacLeod’s actions during proceedings that included; failure to respond to discovery; failure to appear at telephonic conferences; and, failure to contact the Court to address failure to appear at trial despite not having asked for (or obtaining) a continuance, among others.
In the fourth matter, the client from the third matter paid MacLeod $8,290 for representation. His client said MacLeod called him the day prior to his trial to instruct him not to go because he was sick. A default decree was entered against the client, and the client had to hire successor counsel to assist in getting the default decree set aside. MacLeod never communicated with his client again.
In all matters, MacLeod failed to respond to requests for information during the State Bar of Arizona’s investigation.
Scott A. MacLeod’s disbarment was ordered effective on February 28, 2019. He was also ordered to pay for the costs and expenses incurred by the State Bar of Arizona and must pay $16,590 in total restitution to three clients.
Consumers may report attorney misconduct by calling the State Bar of Arizona Attorney/Consumer Assistance Program (A/CAP) hotline at 602.340.7280.
The State Bar of Arizona is a non-profit organization that operates under the supervision of the Arizona Supreme Court. The Bar includes approximately 24,500 attorneys and provides education and development programs for the legal profession and the public. Since 1933 the Bar and its members have been committed to serving the public by making sure the voices of all people in Arizona are heard in our justice system.
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