The Supreme Court of South Carolina

In the Matter of Joseph Wendell Arsi, Esq., Respondent.

ORDER

The Office of Disciplinary Counsel has filed a petition asking the Court to place respondent on interim suspension pursuant to Rule 17(b) of the Rules for Lawyer Disciplinary Enforcement, Rule 413, SCACR, and seeks the appointment of an attorney to protect respondents clients interests pursuant to Rule 31, RLDE, Rule 413, SCACR. Respondent consents to being placed on interim suspension and to the appointment of an attorney to protect his clients.

IT IS ORDERED that the petition is granted and respondent is suspended, pursuant to Rule 17(b), RLDE, Rule 413, SCACR, from the practice of law in this State until further order of this Court.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Albert John Dooley, Jr., Esquire, is hereby appointed to assume responsibility for respondent's client files, trust account(s), escrow account(s), operating account(s), and any other law office account(s) respondent may maintain. Mr. Dooley shall take action as required by Rule 31, RLDE, Rule 413, SCACR, to protect the interests of respondent's clients. Mr. Dooley may make disbursements from respondent's trust account(s), escrow account(s), operating account(s), and any other law office account(s) respondent may maintain that are necessary to effectuate this appointment.

This Order, when served on any bank or other financial institution maintaining trust, escrow and/or operating accounts of respondent, shall serve as an injunction to prevent respondent from making withdrawals from the account(s) and shall further serve as notice to the bank or other financial institution that Albert John Dooley, Jr., Esquire, has been duly appointed by this Court.

Finally, this Order, when served on any office of the United States Postal Service, shall serve as notice that Albert John Dooley, Jr., Esquire, has been duly appointed by this Court and has the authority to receive respondent's mail and the authority to direct that respondent's mail be delivered to Mr. Dooleys office.

This appointment shall be for a period of no longer than nine months unless request is made to this Court for an extension.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Columbia, South Carolina
August 18, 2003