In the Matter of William Isaac Diggs

THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA

In The Supreme Court

In the Matter of William Isaac Diggs, Respondent.

Appellate Case No. 2016-001316

Opinion No. 27669 Submitted September 8, 2016 – Filed September 28, 2016

DISBARRED

Lesley M. Coggiola, Disciplinary Counsel, and Julie K. Martino, Assistant Disciplinary Counsel, both of Columbia, for Office of Disciplinary Counsel.

William Isaac Diggs, of Myrtle Beach, pro se.

PER CURIAM: On June 9, 2016, respondent was disbarred from the North Carolina State Bar. See Attached Opinion. Respondent failed to inform the Office of Disciplinary Counsel (ODC) of his disbarment as required by Rule 29(a) of the Rules for Lawyer Disciplinary Enforcement (RLDE) contained in Rule 413 of the South Carolina Appellate Court Rules (SCACR). After ODC notified the Court of respondent's disbarment, the Clerk of this Court sent a letter to ODC and respondent notifying them that, pursuant to Rule 29(b), RLDE, they had thirty (30) days in which to inform the Court of any claim as to why identical discipline should not be imposed. Respondent failed to respond. ODC filed a response stating that respondent should be disbarred and ordered to pay restitution to those clients from whom he misappropriated funds for his personal use and benefit and to the Lawyers' Fund for Client Protection (Lawyers' Fund) for claims it paid on his behalf.

In similar cases of misconduct, this Court has imposed disbarment and ordered the payment of restitution. In the Matter of Cutchin, 412 S.C. 144, 771 S.E.2d 845

(2015); In the Matter of Miller, 406 S.C. 495, 753 S.E2d 242 (2014); In the Matter of Lafaye, 399 S.C. 12, 731 S.E.2d 282 (2012). Accordingly, we find respondent's misconduct warrants both his disbarment and the payment of restitution.

Within thirty (30) days of the date of this opinion, ODC and respondent shall enter into a restitution plan in which respondent shall agree to pay restitution to all clients harmed by his misconduct in this matter and to the Lawyers' Fund for claims paid on his behalf.

Within fifteen (15) days of the date of this opinion, respondent shall file an affidavit with the Clerk of Court showing that he has complied with Rule 30 of Rule 413, SCACR, and shall also surrender his Certificate of Admission to the Practice of Law to the Clerk of Court.

DISBARRED.

PLEICONES, C.J., BEATTY, KITTREDGE, HEARN and FEW, JJ., concur.