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THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA

In The Supreme Court

In the Matter of Alvin

J. Neal, Respondent.

Opinion No. 24709

Submitted October 13, 1997 - Filed October 27, 1997

PUBLIC REPRIMAND

0. Grady Query, of Charleston, for respondent.

Attorney General Charles Molony Condon and

Senior Assistant Attorney General James G. Bogle,

Jr., of Columbia, for the Office of the Disciplinary

Counsel.

PER CURIAM: In this attorney disciplinary matter,

respondent and Disciplinary Counsel have entered into an agreement

under Rule 21, RLDE, Rule 413, SCACR. In the agreement, respondent

admits misconduct and consents to a public reprimand. We accept the

agreement.

In his representation of a plaintiff in a civil action, respondent

failed to reply to interrogatories and requests for production. The

defendants filed a motion to compel production of records, but received no

response. Defendants then obtained a circuit court order directing

respondent to respond to the discovery. Respondent again failed to file a

timely response. Defendants filed a motion to dismiss for respondent's

failure to comply with the circuit court order. The circuit court granted

the motion and dismissed the action.

Respondent admits that he neglected a legal matter by failing

to file timely responses to the discovery requests as directed by the circuit

p. 24

court. Pursuant to Rules 1.1 and 1.3 of the Rules of Professional Conduct,

Rule 407, SCACR, respondent had a duty to represent his client's interests

competently and diligently. Respondent neglected this duty when he failed

to file timely responses to discovery requests.

By violating the Rules of Professional Conduct, respondent has

committed misconduct under Rule 7(a)(1), RLDE. In our opinion,

respondent's misconduct warrants a public reprimand. Accordingly,

respondent is hereby publicly reprimanded for his misconduct.

PUBLIC REPRIMAND.

Burnett, A.J., not participating.

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