The state's highest court released an opinion yesterday that explained in detail why it quickly disbarred a Harford County attorney after hearing allegations that he essentially bilked clients of tens of thousands of dollars.

The Court of Appeals also rejected Timothy J. McLaughlin's request for further judicial proceedings, saying he had had plenty of opportunities to defend himself against the allegation that he took more than $70,000 from primarily elderly clients for work that he never performed.

In its decision, the court outlined the laws and regulations it said McLaughlin broke when he promised clients he would help them qualify for Medicaid benefits without being penalized for improperly transferring assets.

McLaughlin put his clients' payments into an improper account, became difficult to track down, and never created the plans his clients had paid him for, the court wrote. "None of the four client families received any asset-protection plans," the court wrote. "In fact, they received nothing of value."

McLaughlin, who was admitted to the state bar in 1987, has insisted that he did the work in question and needs a chance to explain himself.

But the court said McLaughlin had a chance to explain his side and said the lawyer had squandered opportunities to present his case.

The court acknowledged that its quick move to disbar McLaughlin last month - less than 24 hours after hearing arguments in his case - was unusual. But the court's "immediate and unequivocal response," it wrote, was appropriate given the lawyer's "particularly egregious conduct."

"We find it especially troubling that McLaughlin's chosen prey in his fraudulent scheme were the elderly and their families, vulnerable people who sought McLaughlin's assistance in alleviating their difficult circumstances," the court wrote. "This Court has a responsibility to protect the public from the actions of an attorney that exploits the fragile for personal gain, as did McLaughlin."

Neither McLaughlin nor his lawyer could be reached for comment.