ADA Matters Because All People Matter

A DISABLED DAD’S ADA MATTERS
Georgia on My Mind
STATE BAR OF GEORGIA • CITY OF BROOKHAVEN • GIRMA, GMA, AND GALLAGHER BASSETT • GEORGIA POST • STATE ADA COORDINATOR’S OFFICE

Double Talk: William D. NeSmith III Said “not a public entity” to Me, Part 2

Part 1 · Part 2 of 2

What I Allege:

  1. Double talk to me. I allege that on May 12, 2026, at 2:12 PM, William D. NeSmith III, Deputy General Counsel, State Bar of Georgia, wrote to me, “on behalf of the State Bar of Georgia,” that “The State Bar of Georgia is not a public entity” and that “we are not required to have a published ADA Coordinator.” Source: his May 12, 2:12 PM email.
  2. Double talk to the court, the same day. I allege that on the same day, May 12, 2026, the State Bar’s lawyers filed Document 46 in the Northern District of Georgia, quoting authority that “[t]he Georgia Supreme Court is an arm of the State of Georgia. The State Bar is an arm of the Georgia Supreme Court.” Source: Doc. 46, pp. 7 to 8, filed May 12, 2026.
  3. And again, in the Bar’s own voice. I allege that on June 9, 2026 the State Bar’s lawyers wrote “the State Bar is an arm of the State” and “the State, through the Georgia Supreme Court, controls the State Bar and its agents and employees,” and that on September 28, 2026 they wrote “the State of Georgia controls the State Bar” and “The State Bar is a state actor.” Sources: Doc. 52, p. 4; Doc. 54, pp. 5 and 9.
  4. A third version for the State ADA office. I allege that at 2:35 PM on May 12, 2026, twenty three minutes after his email to me, John J. Shiptenko sent the State ADA Coordinator the same status sentences without the clause that the Bar is “not required to have a published ADA Coordinator.” It appears to me that both Bar lawyers worked from one shared passage, and that the clause telling a disabled complainant there need be no published ADA Coordinator is one the Bar sent only to the disabled complainant. Sources: his May 12, 2:12 PM email; the May 12, 2:35 PM email as produced by the State on September 22, 2026.
  5. His email, then “purporting.” I allege that on September 28, 2026 the State Bar defendants’ lawyers described the May 12 email in that record to a federal court as “an email purporting to be from State Bar employee William NeSmith” and as an “unauthenticated email,” and that the brief attaches no declaration from him. Source: Doc. 54, pp. 3, 4 and 9.
  6. One institution, two stories. It appears to me that the State Bar of Georgia tells a disabled complainant it is private when the question is ADA access, and tells a federal court it is the State when the question is immunity. That is what I call double talk. Sources: items 1 to 5.

What This Cost a Disabled Dad:

I asked for an ADA Coordinator and a published route. The answer was that the Bar is not the government and need not publish one. I have spent months since then reading the Bar’s own filings, which say the State controls it.

Is this how they would treat their own family or friends that were disabled

What This Page Does Not Say:

This page does not say what any court has decided. It does not grade any party’s case, filing or exhibit. The court quotes are the Bar’s lawyers’ arguments, not a judge’s findings. Stacey Peace wrote that she was not sure the 11th Circuit had ruled on the question for the State Bar of Georgia; this page does not say it has. Calling it double talk is my opinion based on my experience.

I have invited the State Bar of Georgia to identify any inaccuracy on this page. As of October 17, 2026, it has identified none.

Part 1 · Part 2 of 2

Back to Part 1: Double Talk: William D. NeSmith III Said "not a public entity" to Me