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Lawyer suspended from bar for e-mail snooping
CHARLESTON -- A lawyer who gained unauthorized access to another firm's e-mail accounts in Huntington and Charleston has been suspended from the State Bar for two years.
The attorney -- Michael P. Markins -- worked as an associate attorney for Huddleston Bolen LLP in Charleston. His wife, Andrea N. Markins, was an associate attorney at Offutt, Fisher and Nord in Charleston. Both firms also have offices in Huntington.
Michael Markins broke into e-mail accounts at his wife's law firm because he suspected she was having an affair. He never found any such evidence.
The state Supreme Court said the sanctions it issued against Michael Markins should deter other lawyers from similar misconduct.
According to the court's opinion, Markins admitted to breaking into the e-mail accounts of his wife and eight other lawyers at his firm. She had worked at the firm since the fall of 2003.
Michael Markins testified at a disciplinary hearing that he never shared any information from the e-mails.
