NHP

On the eve of trial, the trial court disqualified appellant Eloise Gilbert’s attorney because of a conflict of interest created by his simultaneous representation of her and other clients in a different case. The trial court found that in attempting to advance appellant’s interests by calling one or more of his other clients as witnesses in appellant’s case, the attorney risked harming his other clients’ interests in violation of the terms of a settlement agreement he had negotiated in the other case. Appellant now contends that by disqualifying her attorney, the trial court denied her due process and a fair hearing. We conclude the trial court was within its broad discretion and acted appropriately to maintain ethical standards of professional responsibility and to preserve public trust in the administration of justice and the integrity of the bar. We therefore affirm.

I. Factual and Procedural Background

In the summer of 1994, Edwin “Teddy” Franklin and three other maintenance supervisors employed by respondent National Corporation for Housing Partnerships (NHP) retained the Law Offices of Robert H. Blumenthal (appellant’s attorney) to file a complaint against NHP…