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The N.C. State Bar has again disciplined prominent Charlotte attorney Michael DeMayo, this time for violating professional standards in a financial dispute involving a potentially lucrative client.

In an order announced last month, the bar’s Disciplinary Hearing Commission suspended DeMayo’s license for one year, then modified the punishment and placed the lawyer on two years of probation.

DeMayo says he will appeal the ruling to the N.C. Court of Appeals.

“While I respect the process under which the North Carolina State Bar and DHC regulate attorneys, I strongly disagree with these findings,” DeMayo told The Charlotte Observer on Tuesday.

“I did not violate any of the Rules of Professional Conduct.”

The bar’s order, which is put on hold pending the outcome of DeMayo’s appeal, marks the eighth time since 1999 that the legal-watchdog group has publicly disciplined DeMayo for a violation of professional standards — from misleading advertisements and improper direct mail solicitations to the attempted recruitment of clients “using intimidation, coercion or threats.”

The most recent case occurred in 2019, when DeMayo was censured after threatening to have a client arrested if she did not immediately refund a $4,900 overpayment she had received from DeMayo’s firm, according to the court filing.

The current matter before the bar dates back to April 2020 when an associate of DeMayo’s firm announced his resignation. One of the associate’s clients, identified in court records by the initials “K.D.,” let DeMayo’s firm know that she wanted the departing associate to keep representing her.

DeMayo’s firm considered K.D. an “A+ client,” with a “$$ case,” according to emails included in the disciplinary order. “We have $1m in liability coverage and a corporate defendant,” as one internal message described the potential for significant legal fees.

DeMayo emailed K.D. to set up a phone conversation. She replied by repeating her plans to retain the former associate. DeMayo countered that they have “a brief conversation” anyway.

The video phone call lasted 80 minutes. At one point, DeMayo appeared to raise questions about his former associate’s ability to represent K.D.

“I’m not really sure what happened to him,” DeMayo said, according to the filing.

“Uh, I don’t want to get into his personal life, but there was a divorce, there was a custody, there was a remarriage, uh, there was an ex-wife dating one of the defense lawyers we go up against all the time, so I’m sure all of that had some impact on his productivity.”

Later, when a dispute arose over what share of K.D.’s legal fees DeMayo’s firm should receive, the former associate confronted DeMayo about his previous comments about the divorce.

According to the filing, DeMayo replied that the associate’s “personal struggles” would “never have been fodder for topic of discussion with anyone, much less a client.”

In its ruling, the bar’s Disciplinary Hearing Commission found that DeMayo’s denial amounted to “dishonesty, fraud, deceit, misrepresentation that reflects adversely on (DeMayo’s) fitness as a lawyer.”

The disciplinary commission did dismiss an allegation that DeMayo had threatened to report the former associate to the State Bar if he did not settle the dispute over K.D.’s legal fees.

However, in finding that DeMayo deserved a suspension, the commission members cited the attorney’s previous disciplinary record and noted that the milder punishments — including admonition, reprimand and censure — “have proven to be insufficient to protect the public from (DeMayo’s) future misconduct.”

The order added: “Entry of an order imposing less serious discipline would send the wrong message to attorneys and to the public regarding the conduct expected of members of the Bar of this state.”

Under the order, DeMayo would keep his license provided he meets a series of conditions over the next two years, including that he not violate the law or the bar’s rules of professional conduct.

Otherwise, his suspension could be activated.

This story was originally published February 21, 2023, 3:49 PM.

The spill happened Monday and Mecklenburg County officials say it is contained and being cleaned up.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Cleanup is underway after hydraulic oil was spilled into Little Sugar Creek. Mecklenburg County officials said it happened on Monday in the Dilworth neighborhood.

Community members immediately noticed the oily sheen on the water, and some sent videos of the oil in the creek to WCNC Charlotte.

County officials said while this is not ideal, the good news is there’s no harm to anybody living or walking in the area and it doesn’t appear to be hurting any fish or organisms in the water.

Rusty Rozzelle, the manager of Mecklenburg County’s Water Quality Program said 20 to 30 gallons of hydraulic oil was spilled into Little Sugar Creek on Monday when construction crews working on a water or sewer line under the creek experienced an equipment malfunction.

More than 150 gallons were spilled, but most did not make it into the creek.

The spill originated near Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center in the Dilworth neighborhood and the oil traveled several miles downstream. It was contained around where Little Sugar Creek meets Briar Creek.

Runners who frequent that trail noticed the oil immediately.

This video was taken Tuesday along Little Sugar Creek near Park Road. @MeckCounty officials say 20-30 gallons of hydraulic oil was spilled into the creek but has since been contained. The public and any aquatic life is not at risk @wcnc pic.twitter.com/92XLZpwsrI

— Chloe Leshner (@ChloeLeshner) February 22, 2023

“I just noticed a weird pinkish glow coming from the creek which is just really unusual," Liz Walsh told WCNC Charlotte. "I was curious so I peeked over the side, and it looked like it was oil or some sort of chemical."

She took a video showing the oil in the creek near the Park Road area, continuing her run concerned.

“I just wanted to know that it’s a safe environment for my kids to play in,” she said.

Rozzelle said no one should ever be getting in that water, but there’s no harm to anyone breathing in the air. He said the county was notified of the spill quickly, and while cleanup will take at least the rest of the week, it is contained.

“They put floating booms in the creek that capture the oil but unfortunately some of it made it downstream before they could get the boom in place so they’re going to put some additional booms down there to catch that,” Rozzelle said.

He said a construction crew was digging a line under the creek by Medical Center Drive when the equipment malfunctioned.

“They’re required to clean it up which is pretty costly and sometimes there’s a fine for breaking the law because it’s against the law to dump that type of material into our surface water,” Rozzelle said.

He said it is too early to know if the responsible party will be fined.

The county relies on the public to help monitor the 3,000 miles of the creek in Mecklenburg County. They ask anyone who sees or smells something unusual to contact 311. If it is outside of business hours, call 911.

Given how much Duce Staley was mentioned by his five colleagues in the five press conferences that preceded his, it was rather fitting that the former rusher and energetic “leader of men” was this week’s main event. And, boy, did he deliver.

The Carolina Panthers’ new assistant head coach and running backs coach took the lectern at Bank of America Stadium on Thursday, and he had the room rocking. He was asked, amongst a bevy of topics, what he thinks of the team’s current running backs.

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“Haven’t gotten that far, but I can tell you firsthand—those dudes are real,” he said. “We came down here last year and got our ass whipped. Exactly what happened. Those guys were running up and down the field. And, of course, as a former running back, you love seeing running backs have success—not against us, of course—but you like seeing it.”

That day, which was headlined by a 37-23 win over Staley’s Detroit Lions, saw the Panthers break single-game franchise records for total yards (570) and rushing yards (320). The historic effort was led by D’Onta Foreman and Chuba Hubbard—who ran for career-highs with 165 yards and 125 yards, respectively.

Staley was also asked high how of a priority re-signing the soon-to-be free agent in Foreman will be.

“Super high, for me,” he said. “But my name ain’t Fitterer.”

And now that he’s on this side, Staley explained what excites him about these Panthers.

“It’s all about grit,” he stated. “And I just left a team in Detroit, that’s all about grit. I see a bunch of hungry men. And I can’t wait to get out there with ’em and go to war with ’em.

“One of the things for me when it comes to coaching—there’s a couple things. No. 1—putting them in position to make plays. That’s No. 1. No. 2 is getting them to run through a brick wall with me and not for me. ‘Cause I’ma be the first one to run through the brick wall. I’ma lead the charge.”

So, uh, does anyone else feel like putting on some pads with Staley right about now?

It was quite a shock when we learned that Detroit Lions assistant head coach/running backs coach Duce Staley was leaving the team for the same position with the Carolina Panthers. Staley had been one of the more well-respected members of the Lions coaching staff, and after only two years with the team, there were no indications that his departure was imminent.

We quickly learned, however, that at least part of the reason Staley left was for personal matters. As noted by the Detroit News, the Lions allowed Staley to go to be closer to his mother, “who has been battling some recent health issues.” Staley grew up in South Carolina.

On Thursday, Staley had his introductory press conference and explained a little more about what motivated his lateral move to Carolina.

“It feels good to be back close to home,” Staley said. “Just growing up as a kid being in South Carolina during the time—’95, ‘96 the Panthers got going there. As a kid you always dream about if you’re playing in the NFL, you want to play close to home. So the Panthers were definitely one of those teams that I thought about hopefully drafting me. Didn’t happen, but here I am now.”

Staley also talked more about how being closer to his mom was a big factor.

“She’s my heart, she’s my rock,” Staley said. “So if I had an opportunity to come home, I said to myself for a long time, I would.”

Another factor that lured him to Carolina: reuniting with new Panthers head coach Frank Reich. The two coached together when Reich was the offensive coordinator for the Eagles from 2016-17, and Staley said he’s thrilled to be working alongside him again.

“Being able to spend those years in Philadelphia with Frank Reich and win a Super Bowl, just to see him go out there and affect young men the way he did was awesome,” Staley said. “I said to myself, ‘I would love to have the opportunity to coach with him again.’”

The Lions quickly filled Staley’s position with former Colts running backs coach Scottie Montgomery, who has not yet met with the media.

You can watch Staley’s entire introductory press conference below. Like most Staley press conferences, he’s got a few good quips. It’s definitely going to make you miss him already.

Carolina Panthers senior assistant Jim Caldwell, one of the faces of the NFL in terms of Black head-coaching hires the past few decades, said he doesn't plan to pursue another head-coaching job.

"Right now, the only job that I'm concerned about is the job I do here, right here and now,'' the former Indianapolis Colts and Detroit Lions head coach said on Tuesday. "I'm not worried about the future or anything else. I don't plan on being a head coach from this point forward.''

Caldwell, 68, was fired as the head coach of the Lions after the 2017 season. He has interviewed for more than half a dozen head-coaching jobs since, including the Panthers' and Denver Broncos' openings this season.

Frank Reich hired Caldwell as a senior assistant to report to him on all phases of the game after getting the head-coaching job following Carolina's search that included nine candidates.

"When I didn't get a head-coaching job, I immediately sort of changed the plan in terms of what I was looking for next,'' Caldwell said. "I knew I was at the stage where I wanted to be back in the building somewhere.

"And so, I did have some opportunities to kind of look at, and I was happy when Frank called.''

Of the five teams with head-coaching openings this offseason, only the Houston Texans hired a minority coach -- DeMeco Ryans. Only the Texans, Miami Dolphins, New York Jets, Pittsburgh Steelers, Washington Commanders and Tampa Bay Buccaneers currently have minority head coaches among the 32 teams.

Caldwell said he will continue to strive to get more Black head coaches in the league. He just won't be part of that group.

"When you look at the numbers, they speak for themselves,'' he said of the league's track record for hiring Black head coaches. "There's been volumes and volumes of articles written and reporting on television about the lack of diversity in terms of the head-coaching position.

"But there's been a lot of things in the background to try to improve that.''

Caldwell applauded the effort of NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and executive vice president of football operations Troy Vincent for "trying to scratch and dig and find different ways to enhance'' minority hirings.

Caldwell said he will remain part of the Quarterback Coaching Summit aimed at getting more offensive-minded Black coaches in the college ranks ready for the NFL and head-coaching positions.

Caldwell said that seems "to be the avenue to reaching a head-coaching position.''

One reason Reich, the original quarterback of the Panthers in 1995, was hired by Carolina owner David Tepper was his experience as a playcaller.

Reich confirmed on Tuesday that he plans to continue calling plays for the Panthers with the goal to one day turn over that job to new offensive coordinator Thomas Brown, who is Black.

Reich also hired a Black defensive coordinator in Ejiro Evero, who had the same role with the Broncos last season.

Those are all steps that Caldwell says will help pave the road for Black coaches to become head coaches in the future, but for him, his time as a head coach has passed.

"My focus is on doing the absolute best job for this organization at this particular point in time,'' said Caldwell, who has called North Carolina home since 1993, when he was the head coach at Wake Forest in Winston-Salem. "Me, at my station in life, I want to be as good as I possibly can at this.''

Caldwell is one of two former head coaches on Reich's staff. The other is Dom Capers, the original head coach of the Panthers, who is a senior defensive consultant.

Reich has put together one of the most veteran staffs in the league. With only a tight ends coach yet to hire, his staff has 191 years of NFL coaching experience and another 75 years as players.

That group has a combined 10 Super Bowl rings, including two won by Caldwell, in 2006 as the assistant head coach of the Colts and in 2012 as the offensive coordinator of the Baltimore Ravens.

Caldwell joked that he didn't have to give reporters an evaluation of the Carolina roster because when you're not the head coach, "there's some questions I don't have to answer.''

Reich also was vague on the roster, particularly at quarterback, the team's biggest need. Asked if Carolina would pursue former Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr, he said "that's an interesting question,'' adding it's too early in the process to answer.

That Carolina currently is on the lower end of the NFL in salary cap space will influence that.

But Reich did thank Tepper for living up to his comment that there's not a salary cap on hiring coaches as it pertained to putting together a staff of veteran coaches like Caldwell.

"That doesn't mean it was an open checkbook,'' he said. "It just means we were willing to do whatever we needed to get the right coaches.''

Caldwell, who was on the Indianapolis staff when Reich first became a coach there in 2006, is thankful for his new opportunity.

"You have to have a level belief in that person,'' Caldwell said of Reich. "You have to have a pretty good understanding of what his character is like as well. All those were known factors with me and Frank.

"Plus, the role in itself. I really like this role. It was tailor-made just for me. It was ideal because I can use all the gifts God has given me in this role.''