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Apr. 9.2019 3:44PM I 9 []JoY (jill) I. } TJ.l~.33

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA IN' THE GENERAL COTJRT OF JUSTICE

SUPERIOR COUR.T DIVISION
WAlffi COUNTY F'ILB NO.: 19 CVS

THE NORTH CAROLINA STATE BAR,

Petitionel' CON'SENT ORDER OF

Y. .PRELIMll--T.1.\,.RY INJUNCTION

kOBER'f C, SOLES, Jr., Attorney. "'-.;A

~:)

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Respondent
A.~_ _~ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ~':_., 0

'fillS M.ATTER CafL\l~ on ~'(l1.' (:().ns1det~IW>n before the undersigned Judge Presidi».g uIJQJ1
the consent of the partief3. Petitioner was represented by Mal'Y D. Wm'ltead, Re!lpondent~ Rob~
C, Soles, Jr. appem:edpro 8e, Balled upon the consent offhe patties, the Court mrikes the fo~~awhlg:\ i
"." .. 0 I·
Fil\!bINGS OF FACT
I
:l, Petitfo:ne:t', the North Carolina State Bm' ("State Bar"), is a state age.t1Cy duly
(ItBnnized under the la:v'Vs of North Carolina. and is the propel.' :party to bring this proceeding under
the authority granted il: in Chupter 84 ofihe General.Statutes ofNol'th. Carolina, and the Rules and
Regulatious of fue North. Carolina State Bar (Chaptel: 1 of Title 27 of the North Carolina I
Adm.i1"l.lstt'a.tivt) Cod.e). The State Bnr b:dngs thiii aoiionpursnant to N.C, Gen. Stat. § 84 28(f). 0

2. Re..spondent~ RobC'lt. C, Soles.• Jr, (~'Solefo)l'), was licensed to practice law in North
Catalina in 1959, I
3, . The Smt~ B~l"s menibership (latltbase shows the following address for Sales: PO I
Box 6, Tabor Cii;,\', NC 28463. !
4. The State Har. has mC0ived info:r.matioJ11.udica:Ci11g Sole,1j hM mishandled. entrusted I
5, 801es desire~ to coopemte with the North Carolina State Bar, I
!
6, A. need for proro.pt action ~xists to e:usure that fU1'thel' entrusted funds are not i
mishandled i!.1. the xhlm'\').

7. Soles stiplllfJ.tes to the Wake County Superior Court's judsd:ict1()U (lvet his person, I
acktHywledgcs the Comt's subject matter jurisdiction pursuant to N,C, Gen, Stat. § 84-28(f), and I
!
w~i'Vw} any right to chn.11e.t1ge or appeal this QrGel' onj'nrisdiotlonlill w·o'unds.
!
BASED UPON TIlE FOREGOING F1NDTI--TGS, and with the COllsent of the l)artleg. the ,f
Court. makes the followIng: I

~ .
Tho Norfh CarolllJ4 Btale 11m' v. Robm·f. C. Solf.,s, JI'.
ConQlmt Order ofl'reliminaIY InjuIlction Pugc 1 of3
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CONCLUSIONS OF LAW

1. This Court has persoDul jurisdiction over Respondent and jUl·if.ldictiOl~ OY~W the
subject mntter. This matter is properly before the Wake: COlll1ty ~lClp(}riol' CO'l.llt pUl'B'1.lImt to N.C.
Gen. Stat. § 84"28(f).

2. :Prompt action, pm'suant to N.C. Gen. Stat. 84"28(t), is necessary to p1:egeJ:'VI~ ilie
statns quo 'while tl1e State Bar conduots an EUlalysis of Soles' trust accollnts M.d any otlleJ: UCOO\)nts
into which olie-txt or fiduciary funds have 'been deposited and to enstl1.'0 111!1t no fm:ther olit;;nt funds
fire mishandled.

3. Soleg fiho'l.'ad hl'7 onjoined from receiving or disbursing any further ontmsted fut~d.s
(U51 defined ill. fur, <lefinition of '(trtmt funds» in HIlle 1.15"1(0) of the :t-Ionh Carolina Rules of
Professi(li1~tl Conduoi) from or on behalf of clients, from r0ceivif\g or disbursing any funds fi.·om
any individual ill any fiduoiary capaoity, itom withdr~w.ing fonds fwm and/O)' 'Writing checks
agaloot any aCCOl.1nt in 'whioh (ilielit ii.lnds eM defined in the definition of "trust fund;i) in Rille
1.15~1(0) of the No:!:th Cw:oHr.m. R'l.lles ofProfessionul Conduct and hereafter :refere.nced as "client
funds" Ol' «tr.ust ful1ds)\) or fld\)oial'Y :ft1l1ds have been deposited) tltld,:fi:om dh'ecting any t;mployeo
or i~gent t.o witilCIJ.'!),w funds from anc1/or draw a. check em. any aocount in whk.h ,)li.ent 01' fiduciary
funds have been deposlted, \yxcept as e~'Pressly autho:tized by fhig order or until alJ,d unless
~)('pressly pClI.ll'uLLea-by'subsequoot o).'\l.;m; (I;t''tw C(lmi..

4. To Msist the State Bflrts analy.':1i.s of his accounts) Soles should provide the State
Bnr with reco:tds of all I'WCo1mts ill which c'Jirmt or fiduciary funds have been dl-)posit()(ll~nd with
an client files requested by the State 'Bat as set forth below. '
5. Soles sho\)ld b(~ prohibited :froiD serving as a i:r1.mtee, escrow agent, se1.tlement agent,.
attomey~in··fnct, exeoutor, pemonal repr~Bellta;live 01' in any other fiduciary ca.paclt.y.

TI-lEREPORE) IT 18 HEREBY O:RDERED:

1. Soles is I;lnjained from ihe follo\o'l;illg until permitted by subsequent oi'del' of the
Court: receiving or disbursing any entrusted funds (as defined in t1le defmlt1o!l of "tl'ust :!:lmd8~' in
Rule 1.15" 1(0) of -ihe N'orih Carolina Rules of Profe!l.':lional Conduct) from or 011 behalf of clients;
1'ecei'ving or disbu1'sing any fund.g from any indiv.tdu~u. in any fidl.lcinry capacity; writing cheeks
L\ga1.1:.\st OJ.' othelwifJe disb'm'sing 01' withdra.wing funds. fl·om. any @.ocount into whioh e1ient 01-
fldudftry fonds havl} been d~posi.ted. find lor directing allY employee or agent to dra.w a check on.
or otherwise disburHe or withdraw funds :from any account in which client 01' fidu<~iar.y funds have
been deposited.

2. W1tl',ll1l3 days I)fx1)tI\teI3t by the State Bar, So les, or tiny other person having custody
or control of records relating t.o any aCC01.lT.l.t lllto which client funds or fiduci.ary funds have be~m
deposited; including misal)propriated or mishanrlltd ulient or filluoiu.ry Junds, nha11 :hulUediat~ly
produce to the North Carolina Stat~ Bar at i1s location iu Raleigh) North C!I1:oHna. for lllspeotir.m
and copying all records t.or (~11y accoymt 111"'(0 whic.h, any (,jIient or fiduoiary fuuds luwe been
deposited (tJJ.Q. i1J.Ch,1(H:ug but not Ibx.l.tted to barut statements. canceled checks, deposit glips., cHent
ledgel' cflrds, check stabtl, deposited items, d~bit memos, oredit card 'LTallsaction inf01'!l1atio:h, ~l1ld
any other records relating to the receipt and disbursement of client and/ox fiduciary funclH.

• •
The No)'(h Cal'oltna State Bar v. Robert C. So/as, J/'. •
Consent Order ofPrl,lliminnry ItJ,itmcHon Pnw: i 01'3
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3, Soles) or any other pets-on. h~wing c,ustody or control over records mlati:ng to
individuals f()l' whom Soles hM pl'Qvided legal services, shall pl'Oduce to the N01'th Carolitlfl. S'tflte
Bar at its Rt'lJeigh, NOltn C(tfo1init location for inspectio:n and copying any 01' all client files needed
by the State Bar for its audit. "Glient files') shall include 1,111 reootds and. dOb'lunents relating to
indtviduals or entities for whom Soles has provided legal seX'Vir~es. iuc,luding bu.t not limited to
settlem.ent statements, Hl'JD-1 Settlement SM.ements. billiug statements I accountings, fe.e
agreements, C01.tespO!j.d\;-.tl.C~), li'tigl\:tion doonments, memoranda and receipts. Cuttettt cHent t'i.if;lfJ
.shall. be prodnc,ed at the State Bar offices ill Ra1eigh, North Caroliu£!' wlthin 24 hO\ll'S ofrequest by
t.he State Be:r and olosed client files shall be pmduced at the State Bat offices in Raleigb., North
Carolina within 3 days of I'equest by the State BtU,.

4. Xf:SoJ.es dOf~S not have l)OSsessioll ofthe minimum 1'e~ords :t'0qui-redto be mail'ltained
regotding trust an.d flduclary ftmds PlU'suaut to Rule 1,15~3 of-the Rtlle!l of Pto:i:'essio:t1al Conduct.
he shull direct the bfmk(s) where his t.mst atld operating bank Mwunt(s) ru:~') m€lil1tt1med, within 10
days of the date of this order,. to copy and tJ:nnsmit any snch missing rep..ords din~ct1y to the North
Cal'01i:n13. State Bal' ~t its R~leigh, NOlth Catoli1la location, at Soles' expense,
5, Soles is hereby enjoined from serving as an a:ttontey~i11~taot, esetow ngent,
settlement ag(;mt.,. trustee, executor, ;personHll'epreselltative or in any otllet flduciat'Y C(\ll1.tc::ity.

6. This Consent Order: of P.teliminury Il;l·n:o.ction shall remain in effect until

:further order o:fthis Court,

n·ns the 12. -(( day of ~ /. ( ) 2()19,

-Y/
Supe11m CO'I:ut ,hlclge Presiding

CONSENT TO BY:

~~.~,=hd
MaryD.VIfuStofKl
Al'to1'lwy jor Petittoner

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_ _ _ _ __

. Robert C. Soles, Jr. I,

Respondent

• • • • •
tilt; North Car olin 11 Stale Bal' v. Robel't C. {lol(J~'J Jr.
COllSt:l1t Ortie)' of{lrf.lilniUi1l'~1 Inj\lllGtioH Pngc:) of3