News Release
Contact: William W. Hunt, III
[Tennessee] Board of Professional Responsibility
615-361-7500

June 16, 1997


Arizona Attorney Disbarred


On June 5, 1997, The Supreme Court of Tennessee entered an order disbarring
Laurence A. Canter with law offices in Scottsdale, Arizona; Cupertino and
San Rafael, California, but licensed to practice law in Tennessee. Mr. 
Canter also received a one year suspension to be served concurrently with
a disbarment. This order was based on a recommendation of a hearing panel
after a hearing in this case.

Mr. Canter was fould guilty of numerous offenses of the Attorneys' Code of
Professional Responsibility (Rule 8, Rules of the Supreme Court of 
Tennessee). In 1994 in an incident reported in the national media he
placed an advertisement that appeared on more than 5,000 of the Internet's
news groups as well as 10,000 of E-Mail lists. The posting appeared on
computer screens unsolicited and each reader was required to read at
least a portion of the message. The hearing panel found that the posting
violated Tennessee's advertising rules DR 2-101 and was an improper
intrusion into the recipient's privacy violating Disciplinary Rule
1-102(A)(1)(5)(6).

Mr. Canter also represented Mr. Shafgul Islam in an immigration matter. 
Mr. Canter failed to adequately communicate with Mr. Islam, charged
Mr. Islam an improper non-refundable retainer, failed to return Mr. Islam
his file and improperly demanded Mr. Islam provide him a "full release."

Mr. Canter was also hired by Mr. A. M. Jaffee relative to an incorporation
of a business and two immigration matters. Mr. Canter Failed to adequately
communicate with his client, neglected his client's matters and mis-
appropriated $350 he held in trust for his client.


In a fourth matter, Mr. Canter withheld funds from the paycheck of
an employee Sandra Colvis to pay taxes and health insurance premiums,
misappropriated funds to his own use and failed to pay them to the
proper authorities. The paychecks made out to Ms. Colvis were also
returned for insufficient funds.

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