ALIVIZATOS, Constandin - Indefinite Suspension on December 16, 2009 by the Court of Appeals for lack of competence in handling settlements, failure to keep attorney trust account records, failure to maintain client monies in the trust account, commingling of funds and misuse of trust money through negligence, in violation of Maryland Rules of Professional Conduct 1.1, 1.15, 8.4(a) and Maryland Rules 16-606.1, 16-607 and 16-609.
ALLISON, Richard Wayne II - Disbarred by the Court of Appeals on June 4, 2010 based upon a reciprocal disciplinary matter in which he was disbarred from the practice of law in the District of Columbia after he pled guilty to committing mail and wire fraud by participating in a scheme to defraud homeowners and mortgage lenders, in violation of Maryland Lawyers’ Rules of Professional Conduct 8.4(b), (c) and (d), and 18 U.S.C. §1341, §1343 and §1349.
BAHGAT, Mina - Disbarred by Order dated September 3, 2009 by the Court of Appeals for failure to provide competent representation, failure to act with reasonable diligence and promptness, misleading his client and failure to keep his client reasonably informed, failure to safekeep property, dishonesty, fraud, deceit and misrepresentation, and intentional misappropriation of trust funds, in violation of Maryland Rules of Professional Conduct 1.1, 1.3, 1.4, 1.15 and 8.4 (c), Maryland Rule 16-609 and Md. Code Ann., Business Occupations and Professions, §10-306.
BLAIR, Walter L. - Commission Reprimand for filing a lawsuit alleging fraud and other wrongdoing against two defendants, without having a basis to believe that these parties had, in fact, engaged in any fraud or other wrongdoing, in violation of Maryland Lawyers’ Rules of Professional Conduct 3.1.
BLEECKER, Lorin Henry - Disbarred by the Court of Appeals on May 12, 2010 for misconduct arising from his representation of a personal injury client. Respondent missed the statute of limitations for filing suit on Complainant’s claim but later filed a civil action in court after the expiration of limitations. The civil complaint he filed misstated the accident date by one (1) year, and the court eventually dismissed the case after defendant’s counsel filed three (3) separate motions to which Respondent failed to respond. Respondent took no steps to correct the erroneous accident date in the civil complaint. In the disciplinary case, the Court of Appeals determined that Respondent “systematically concealed from his client and the court that the statute of limitations had expired on [the client’s] claim.” Respondent also knowingly failed to respond to lawful demands for information by a disciplinary authority. The Court of Appeals found Respondent to have violated Maryland Lawyers’ Rules of Professional Conduct 1.1, 1.3, 1.4, 1.16(a), 3.3(a)(1), 8.1(b) and 8.4(a), (c) & (d).
CALLEGARY, Peter M. - Disbarred by Consent effective March 1, 2010 by the Court of Appeals for misconduct associated with his representation of a worker’s compensation client, including failure to communicate properly with the client, failure to safeguard and account for client funds, conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation, conduct that is prejudicial to the administration of justice, misuse of trust money and violations of multiple provisions at Title 16, Chapter 600 of the Maryland Rules (rules governing attorney trust accounts), and failure to cooperate with Bar Counsel in the investigation of the underlying complaint, in violation of Maryland Rules of Professional Conduct 1.4, 1.15(a) & (d), 8.1(b) and 8.4 (c) & (d) and Maryland Rules 16-606, 16-606.1 and 16-609, and Maryland Code Ann., Business Occupations and Professions Article, §10-306.
CINQUEGRANI, Peter Joseph - Disbarred on October 2, 2009 by the Court of Appeals for violation of Maryland Rules of Professional Conduct, Rule 8.4(b) and (c). This was a reciprocal disciplinary matter arising from Respondent’s disbarment in the District of Columbia.
COSTANZO, Frank M. - Disbarred on February 9, 2010 by the Court of Appeals for lack of competence, failure to carry out client’s instructions, lack of diligence and failure to communicate with client; criminal act that reflects adversely on his honesty, trustworthiness or fitness as a lawyer in other respects; dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation; conduct that is prejudicial to the administration of justice; and misappropriation of client funds, in violation of Maryland Rules of Professional Conduct 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 8.4(b), (c) & (d) and Maryland Rule 16-609 and Maryland Code Ann., Business Occupations and Professions Article, §10-306.
CURTIS, Charles M. - Commission Reprimand for failure to appear at his client’s hearing. When ordered to appear before the Judge to explain his absence, he appeared late and offered the Court an explanation that was untrue. His conduct violated Maryland Rules of Professional Conduct, Rules 1.3 and 8.4(c) and (d). He has since written a letter of apology to the Judge with a truthful explanation of his absence at the hearing.
CVACH, Paul R. - Indefinite Suspension by Consent on September 21, 2009 by the Court of Appeals for misappropriating trust funds, in violation of Maryland Rules of Professional Conduct, Rule 1.15.
DIXON, Isaiah, III - Disbarred by Consent on February 1, 2010 by the Court of Appeals for failure to act with reasonable diligence, failure to communicate with his clients, failure to safekeep clients’ property by commingling his personal funds with funds held in his escrow account on behalf of clients and intentional misappropriation of client funds. He also engaged in criminal acts that reflect adversely on his honesty, trustworthiness or fitness as a lawyer when he admitted that he purchased and used cocaine, resulting in his arrest for possession of cocaine in violation of Maryland Rules of Professional Conduct 1.3, 1.4, 1.15, 3.3, 8.1(b), 8.4(b) & (c), Maryland Rules 16-607 and 16-609, and Maryland Code Ann., Business Occupations and Professions Article, §10-306 and §10-606.
DORSEY, Nelson B., Jr. - Indefinite Suspension by Consent, by the Court of Appeals on June 28, 2010 for abandoning his clients’ cases and for failure to return unearned fees, in violation of the Maryland Lawyers’ Rules of Professional Conduct 1.1, 1.2(a), 1.3, 1.4(a)(2) and 1.4(a)(3), 1.5(a), 1.15(a), 1.16(d), 8.1(b) and 8.4(d), and Maryland Rules 16-604 and 16-609, and Md. Code Ann., Business Occupations & Professions Article, §10-304 and §10-306.
FISHER, Alene - Commission Reprimand for failure to competently represent her client by failure to advise her of potential tax consequences of the marital award coming from the supplemental retirement income plan, failure to timely pursue clarification of the Consent Order, failure to pursue the QDRO for six (6) months and failure to communicate with her client, in violation of Maryland Rules of Professional Conduct 1.1, 1.2, 1.3 and 1.4.
FOLTZ, Richard Nelson, III - Disbarred on November 13, 2009 by the Court of Appeals for commingling funds in his attorney trust account and engaging in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation in order to avoid his judgment creditors’ collection efforts, in violation of Maryland Rules of Professional Conduct 1.15, 8.4(c) and (d) and Maryland Rule 16-607.
GARCIA, Jose Expedito M. - Disbarred on August 28, 2009 by the Court of Appeals as a result of his conviction of immigration fraud.
GEDE, James A. - Commission Reprimand for assisting a non-lawyer in the unauthorized practice of law. The non-lawyer was retained to re-open an estate and with Respondent’s consent, used his name as attorney for that estate. The non-lawyer prepared and signed documents using Respondent’s name as counsel. Respondent did not review the documents prepared and filed by the non-lawyer. Respondent violated Maryland Rules of Professional Conduct 5.5 and 8.4(a), (c) & (d).
GILLAND, Michael Brian - Disbarred by Consent on September 14, 2009 by the Court of Appeals for misusing client funds, in violation of Maryland Rules of Professional Conduct, Rules 8.4(c) and (d), 16-607 and 16-609, and Business Occupations and Professions Article, §10-306.
GLESSNER, Stephen A. - Consent to Reprimand on August 12, 2009 by Court of Appeals relating to his representation of a defendant charged with multiple sex offenses and his failure to investigate the facts supporting every potential defense of which his client advised him, his failure to contact or subpoena for trial witnesses who could have provided testimony useful to the defense, and his failure to advise his client that he had a constitutional right to testify on his own behalf, in violation of Maryland Rules of Professional Conduct, Rules 1.1, 1.3 and 1.4(a)(2).
GORDON, Jeffrey Keith - 45-day Suspension by the Court of Appeals on March 16, 2010 for violation of Maryland Rules of Professional Conduct 8.4(c) in which Respondent had his client execute the signature page of a contract the night before a Summary Judgment hearing when the original could not be located. This was a reciprocal disciplinary action arising from Respondent’s Reprimand in Texas.
GREENBERG, Kent L. - Commission Reprimand for failure to safekeep property and commingling funds by failure to deposit client’s retainer monies in escrow and instead, deposited them into his operating account. The Respondent’s practice was to deposit retainers for family law matters into his operating account and maintains a trust account for auto-tort related cases. His conduct was in violation of Maryland Rules of Professional Conduct 1.15(a) and (b) and Maryland Rules 16-604 and 16-607.
GREENBERG, Larry S. - Commission Reprimand for engaging in professional misconduct while serving as attorney for the personal representative of a decedent’s estate opened in Prince George’s County in which he failed to appear before the Orphans’ Court on three occasions for show cause hearings scheduled by that tribunal to determine why a final account of the estate had not yet been filed. Respondent’s failure to appear in response to duly issued notices constituted conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice in violation of Maryland Rule of Professional Conduct 8.4(d).
HAAS, Richard J. - Indefinitely Suspended on February 17, 2010 by the Court of Appeals for lack of diligence and unreasonable fees when he neglected a client’s case, accepted a large fee but thereafter provided little or no legal services, in violation of Maryland Rules of Professional Conduct 1.3 and 1.5, based upon a reciprocal disciplinary matter arising from Respondent’s suspension in the State of New York, with reinstatement in Maryland conditioned upon his reinstatement to practice in the State of New York.
HAMBY, Reuben I. - Commission Reprimand for lack of competence and conflict of interest in representation of client by preparing and recording title deed to transfer client’s residential property to client, Respondent and his secretary as joint tenants in an attempt to protect the property from possession by the State or nursing home for future medical expenses, without consulting an estate planning/trust attorney for a better alternative, in violation of Maryland Rules of Professional Conduct 1.1 and 1.8(c).
HAMILTON, Dontrice P. - Commission Reprimand for failure to maintain an escrow account after opening her law practice, which resulted in failure to keep personal funds separate from clients’ or third persons’ funds, failure to hold clients’ or third persons’ funds in escrow and failure to keep adequate records for the receipt and disbursement of clients’ or third persons’ funds, in violation of Maryland Rules of Professional Conduct 1.15 and Maryland Rules 16-606.1, 16-607 and 16-609.
HARDWICK, Clifford L. - Commission Reprimand for failing to obtain the client's informed consent to a potential conflict of interest, in violation of Maryland Rule of Professional Conduct 1.7.
HEMPHILL, William B. - Commission Reprimand for failure to abide by his client’s instruction to file a law suit against Cecil County and its contractor, for failure to advise his client that he had elected not to file suit when he knew his client believed that he had filed suit and for failure to respond to requests for information from Bar Counsel, in violation of Maryland Rules of Professional Conduct 1.2(a) and 8.1(b).
HILL, John Lyster - Disbarred by Consent on November 24, 2009 by the Court of Appeals for mishandling two (2) domestic relations cases in which he failed to take prompt action, he implied he had paid a judge to expedite his client’s case, failed to file an Information Report causing dismissal of his client’s appeal, and failed to deposit and maintain his client’s retainer in trust, in violation of Maryland Rules of Professional Conduct 1.1, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5(a), 1.15, 7.1(b) and 8.4(d), Maryland Rules 16-604 and 16-609 and Md. Code Ann., Business Occupations and Professions, §10-306.
HILL, Ronald C. - Commission Reprimand for conflict of interest when he and his co-counsel who represented a Homeowners Assn. (HOA), represented 2 individual Board Directors of and against the HOA as a defendant, that was directly adverse to another client and Respondent did not obtain or attempt to obtain the clients’ informed consent, confirmed in writing; for lack of competence, Respondent failed to demonstrate the legal knowledge, skill, thoroughness and preparation necessary for the representation of the HOA and the other clients; and conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice in that it was conduct likely to reflect negatively on the image of the legal profession, in violation of Maryland Rules of Professional Conduct 1.7, 1.1 and 8.4(d).
HINISH, Lorn William - Commission Reprimand for his involvement in a bar fight that resulted in a criminal jury trial and a conviction of Second Degree Assault, which conduct Respondent agrees was prejudicial to the administration of justice and was conduct likely to reflect negatively on the image of the legal profession, in violation of the Maryland Rules of Professional Conduct 8.4(d).
HOLMES, Stephen John - Disbarred by Consent on September 1, 2009 for misappropriation of client funds, in violation of Maryland Rules of Professional Conduct, Rules 8.4(c) and (d), 16-607 and 16-609, and Md. Bus. Occ. & Prof. Code Ann., §10-306.
HOOVER-HANKERSON, Celicia - Disbarred by Consent on October 19, 2009 by the Court of Appeals for conviction of criminal charges involving submitting false invoices to the Court in the District of Columbia for payment of witnesses, in violation of Maryland Rules of Professional Conduct, Rules 8.4(b) and (d).
HOSTAGE, Christopher A. - Commission Reprimand for engaging in professional misconduct in violation of Maryland Rules of Professional Conduct (MRPC), Rule 8.4(a). While representing a client, he sent a letter to a third-party threatening criminal prosecution unless she contacted him to discuss terms of an agreement to settle his client’s alleged criminal and civil claims(s) against her. He claimed he had “already met” with the local Sheriff’s department and an Assistant State’s Attorney and “they agreed to pursue charges against you”, which were false statements of material fact. He acknowledges that he wrote and sent the letter to the client’s ex-wife in haste without giving proper consideration to its accuracy or to the propriety of sending such a letter. His conduct specifically violated MRPC Rules 4.1(a)(1) and 4.4(a).
HOU, Junwei W. - Commission Reprimand for failure to communicate and conflict of interest when Respondent represented a husband and wife in immigration matters and later agreed to represent them in connection with a Marital Separation/Property Settlement Agreement but failed to obtain their informed consent, confirmed in writing, for joint representation and also failed to timely inform Complainant of the fact that his wife had filed for divorce while Respondent remained the attorney of record on the immigration matter or to provide legal advice to Complainant concerning the pending immigration petition, in violation of Maryland Rules of Professional Conduct 1.4 and 1.7.
HUNTER, Deairich Ray - Disbarred on November 6, 2009, effective immediately, by Court of Appeals as reciprocal discipline corresponding to his disbarment in the District of Columbia for failure to pay medical providers pursuant to assignments, improperly withdrawing funds from his escrow account, failure to maintain client funds in escrow, settlement of a case without the client’s consent and making misrepresentations. He violated Maryland Rules of Professional Conduct 1.3, 1.4, 1.15(a) and (b) and 8.4(b), (c) and (d).
HUTCHISON-SMITH, Erin - Disbarred by Consent on April 1, 2010 by the Court of Appeals for misappropriating fees from two law firms while employed as an associate, which conduct violated Maryland Rules of Professional Conduct 1.15(a), 8.1(b) and 8.4(b), (c) & (d).
HYATT, Jack I. - Commission Reprimand for his representation of a Complainant in a custody case in which the Complainant was found in default, the Respondent failed to ensure his complete understanding of the primary reason for his retention and therefore prepared pleadings and discovery requests which were not calculated to serve the client’s best interests. Respondent performed work that was of no practical use to the Complainant. These actions violated Maryland Lawyers’ Rules of Professional Conduct 1.1 Competence, 1.2 Scope of Representation and Allocation of Authority Between Client and Lawyer, 1.4 Communication and 8.4(d) Misconduct (constituting conduct that is prejudicial to the administration of justice).
JAROSINSKI, George S. - Disbarred on November 16, 2009 by the Court of Appeals for intentional misappropriation of trust funds, in violation of Maryland Rules of Professional Conduct 1.15, 8.1 and 8.4(b), Maryland Rule 16-609 and Md. Code Ann., Business Occupations and Professions, §10-306.
JENKINS, Frank Plowden - Disbarred by Consent on September 15, 2009 by the Court of Appeals for lack of competence, diligence, communication, misappropriations, commingling and misrepresentation, in violation of Maryland Rules of Professional Conduct, Rules 1.15 and 8.4(c).
JOHNSON, Renard D. - Disbarred on July 21, 2009 by the Court of Appeals based on misconduct in his management capacity at a title company he owned. Respondent was found to have facilitated a fraudulent, equity-stripping transaction, violating fiduciary obligations to the mortgage lender and to the sellers of the property, in violation of Maryland Rules of Professional Conduct, Rules 1.15(b)[now (d)], 8.4(a) and (c), 5.1(c) and 5.3(c).
KAPINUS, Bert W. - Commission Reprimand for engaging in professional misconduct in connection with his handling of a client’s slip-and-fall personal injury case. He failed to provide competent representation, did not act with reasonable diligence and promptness in representing the client and failed to communicate adequately with the client, in violation of Maryland Rules of Professional Conduct, Rules 1.1, 1.3 and 1.4.
KWARTENG, Charles Owusu - Disbarred on December 10, 2009 by the Court of Appeals for incompetent representation of his client by failure to prepare and answer Interrogatories, respond to a Motion for Sanctions and preserve client’s right of appeal one of his matters; failure to communicate with client concerning legal matters; lack of diligence; failure to communicate with and keep client informed; abandonment of representation of his client by failure to pursue client’s cases; conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice by failure to take action in client’s cases; and knowingly fail to respond to a lawful demand for information to Bar Counsel; in violation of Maryland Rules of Professional Conduct 1.1, 1.3, 1.4, 1.16(d), 8.4(d) and 8.1(b).
LEATHERMAN, Jennifer L. - Indefinite Suspension by Consent on August 25, 2009 by the Court of Appeals for failure to place unearned fees into an escrow account and for commingling of unearned fees in her operating account.
LEE, Garrett Lamont - Disbarred on October 7, 2009, effective immediately, by the Court of Appeals, as reciprocal discipline corresponding to his disbarment by consent in the District of Columbia. The Respondent’s Affidavit of Consent in the District of Columbia is under Seal. The Respondent failed to respond to the Court’s Show Cause Order and did not appear at oral argument scheduled on October 6, 2009, resulting in issuance of the Court’s Order the next day.
MARCALUS, Jeffrey S. - 60-day Suspension (beginning 30 days after the date of the Opinion) by the Court of Appeals on May 18, 2010 for engaging in criminal conduct, prostitution, solicitation of prostitution and distributing a controlled dangerous substance, that adversely reflected on his honesty, trustworthiness and/or fitness to practice in other respects and engaging in conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice, in violation of Maryland Lawyers’ Rules of Professional Conduct 8.4(b) and (d).
McBROOM, Wayne Isaiah - Disbarred by Consent on August 10, 2009 by the Court of Appeals for failure to provide competent representation, failure to act with reasonable diligence, failure to communicate with his clients, failure to safeguard his clients’ property, failure to refund to his client the unearned portion of his retainer and misrepresentation to the court concerning refunding his fee to his client, in violation of Maryland Rules of Professional Conduct, Rules 1.1, 1.3, 1.4, 1.15, 1.16, 3.3 and 8.4(b), (c) and (d). He also pled guilty to violating Criminal Law, §7-104 of the Annotated Code of Maryland for theft under $500.
MILLAND, Charles Ford - Commission Reprimand for lack of competence by preparing pleadings for his client for relief unavailable to him under Maryland law, failure to safekeep property, failure to open and maintain trust account and failure to deposit client funds in a trust account as a result of not having a trust account, in violation of Maryland Rules of Professional Conduct 1.1, 1.15(a) & (c) and Maryland Rules 16-603 and 16-604.
MIRSKY, Steven E. - Commission Reprimand for placing an earned fee in his attorney trust account, in violation of the Maryland Rules of Professional Conduct, Rules 1.15(b) and 16-607. He also engaged in the practice of law after being decertified by the Court of Appeals for failure to file his pro bono report, in violation of Rule 5.5.
MONROE, Monica Arrington (a/k/a MONROE, Monica Marie and a/k/a ARRINGTON, Monica) - Commission Reprimand resulting from her representation of a client’s Chapter 13 bankruptcy case and another client’s case (during which time she left the country due to her husband’s military commitment) in which she failed to act with reasonable diligence, failed to conclude the work, upon termination of representation she failed to take steps reasonably practicable to protect a client’s interests, such as reasonable notice, time for employment of other counsel, surrendering papers and property to the client and refunding any advance payment of fee or expense not earned or incurred, in violation of Maryland Rules of Professional Conduct 1.3, 1.4(a)(2) & (3), 1.4(b) and 1.16(d).
MURPHY, Brian P. - Commission Reprimand for lack of competence and failure to safekeep property in his representation, as trustee from 2003 to 2008 he failed to maintain adequate records in handling estate assets, thereby impairing the ability of his successor to take over the trusts and failed to give tenants appropriate notice required by law when the trust purchased an interest in an apartment building, in violation of Maryland Rules of Professional Conduct 1.1 and 1.15(a).
NEEB, Kimberly Ann - Suspended for One year, One day, effective October 2, 2009 by the Court of Appeals, for violation of Maryland Rules of Professional Conduct, Rule 8.4(b), based upon a reciprocal disciplinary matter arising from Respondent’s suspension in the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, and is subject to the reinstatement of Respondent to the Pennsylvania Bar by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania.
NDUKWE, Azewah - Commission Reprimand for his conduct relating to his representation of a client in a Complaint for Absolute Divorce in Prince George’s County, Maryland (“First Complaint”) filed on 6/20/03 and in the District of Columbia (“Second Complaint”). The Second Complaint, filed on 8/14/03, incorrectly represented that client’s wife (“Complainant”) resided in a different jurisdiction from the First Complaint, was not signed by Respondent and appears that the client received assistance preparing the Second Complaint from someone who worked in Respondent’s office, who is no longer employed by him. On 9/9/03 Respondent attended a hearing on the Second Complaint at which his client testified, in his presence, to questions from the Court that he had been a bona fide resident of the District of Columbia. Respondent did not participate in the hearing or address the Court. Divorce was granted. Respondent did not question his client’s inconsistencies represented to the Circuit Court for Prince George’s County and the Superior Court for the District of Columbia or otherwise attempt to determine the accuracy of the information contained in the First Complaint. On 2/24/04 a letter was sent on Respondent’s office letterhead to Complainant which appears to have been signed by Respondent asking her to complete the enclosed Answer form and return it to Respondent’s office for filing with the Circuit Court for Prince George’s County. Respondent’s conduct violated Maryland Lawyers’ Rules of Professional Conduct 1.7 (engaging in a conflict of interest), 5.3 (failure to adequately supervise a non-lawyer employee) and 8.4(d) (failure to determine the accuracy of representations made in the pleading before the Court for Prince George’s County once he became aware of his client’s representations of his residency.
O’DeNEAL, Ramsdale, Jr. - Indefinite Suspension on December 17, 2009 by the Court of Appeals for violating Maryland Rules of Professional Conduct 1.3 and 1.4 in connection with his representation in a criminal case.
OLUJOBI (AWOJOBI), Adekunle B. - Disbarred on December 4, 2009 by the Court of Appeals, for violating Maryland Rules of Professional Conduct 8.4(b), (c) and (d), Maryland Rule 16-609 and Md. Code Ann., Business Occupations & Professions, §10-306, while acting in his capacity as trustee in a court-ordered sale of real property, for his intentional misappropriation of the proceeds of the sale and leaving the United States. He has never repaid complainant’s client for the money he owes him, in spite of promises to do so.
PURCELL, Will - Disbarred on July 21, 2009 by the Court of Appeals based on misconduct as a settlement agent for the title company owned by Renard D. Johnson (also disbarred by the same opinion). Respondent was found to have facilitated a fraudulent, equity-stripping transaction, violating fiduciary obligations to the mortgage lender and to the sellers of the property, in violation of Maryland Rules of Professional Conduct, Rules 1.15(b)[now (d)], and 8.4(a) and (c).
ROBATON, David M. - Indefinite Suspended on November 16, 2009 by the Court of Appeals for failure to enter an appearance with the Bankruptcy Court when required to do so, unauthorized practice before the Bankruptcy Court, failure to represent his client with competence and diligence and failure to disclose his compensation to the court as required under the Bankruptcy Rules, in violation of Maryland Rules of Professional Conduct 1.1, 1.3, 3.3(a)(1), 5.5(a), 8.4(c) and (d).
ROBATON, David M. - Disbarred by Consent on November 17, 2009 by the Court of Appeals for lying to clients about the status of their cases and to Bar Counsel about his communication with his clients, in violation of Maryland Rules of Professional Conduct 8.1(a) and 8.4(c).
RUDDY, JOSEPH CORNELIUS, JR. - Reprimand on October 6, 2009 by the Court of Appeals, for violation of Maryland Rule of Professional Conduct 1.7. Respondent failed to make arrangements for the payment of interest on a debt he owed a deceased aunt’s estate after he became personal representative of and attorney for the estate. The $95,000 loan, made years earlier, was documented by a promissory note signed as part of a 2001 Conditional Diversion Agreement and provided for the loan to be payable, without interest, 120 days after the aunt’s death. Four months after her death, Respondent opened his aunt’s estate and, based upon a telephone conversation with Bar Counsel, came to believe he had the “blessing” of the Attorney Grievance Commission not to pay the principal, without incurring interest on the debt, until he concluded administration of the estate and could write-off the debt as an offset to his testamentary legacy. His conversation with Bar Counsel was treated as a mitigating factor with respect to the Rule 1.7 violation.
SEIDLER, Samuel A. - Commission Reprimand for conviction of second degree assault on August 2, 2006 arising from an incident in which he was found to have struck his wife, which conduct the Commission found he violated Maryland Rule of Professional Conduct 8.4(d).
SHOUP, Jonathan H. - Reprimand on August 28, 2009 by the Court of Appeals for unintentionally misappropriating funds in violation of Maryland Rules of Professional Conduct, Rule 16-609.
SIDLE, Barton J. - Commission Reprimand. While appointed as Conservator of the client affairs of a deceased attorney which led to subsequent negotiations with the attorney for the decedent’s Estate to purchase the law practice, the terms of which were memorialized in a letter, but the Estate never signed an agreement and the sale was never approved by the Court. The Conservator continued his service and acted pursuant to the terms he believed to be the agreement for the purchase of the law practice, and consistent with the agreement, periodically remitted fees to the Estate which were accepted. A dispute arose between the Conservator and some beneficiaries of the Estate with respect to whether or not an agreement existed for the sale of the law practice, now to be determined by the Circuit Court. If there is an adjudication that an enforceable purchase agreement exists for the sale of the law practice, then he is in violation of Maryland Rules of Professional Conduct, Rule 16-777 by failing to obtain court approval prior to the sale. If, however, there is an adjudication that no valid purchase agreement exists, then his sharing of fees with the non-lawyer Estate violated Maryland Rule 5.4.
SIEJACK, Richard T. - Commission Reprimand for engaging in professional misconduct, in violation of Maryland Rules of Professional Conduct, Rules 1.3, 1.4, 1.15(d) and 8.1(b); failure to be fully attentive to various client matters and engaging in conduct in violation of Rules 1.3 and 1.4; failure to respond in a timely manner to the requests of several clients for an accounting of their funds (generally fees paid in advance) as required by Rule 1.15(d); and failure, in varying degrees, to respond promptly or at all to Bar Counsel’s lawful demands for information, as required by Rule 8.1(b).
SILVERMAN, Leslie Dana - 60-day Suspension, effective 30 days from the date of the Order dated December 8, 2009 (beginning January 7, 2010) by the Court of Appeals as reciprocal discipline corresponding to her 60-day Suspension in Virginia effective June 1, 2009, which involved two separate complaints, one of which also was filed with the Maryland Attorney Grievance Commission. In the Virginia proceeding, she entered into an Agreed Disposition acknowledging her failure to act with reasonable diligence in representing clients, failure to deposit an unearned retainer in an attorney trust account until the fee was earned and engaging in the practice of law while her license in Virginia was administratively suspended for failure to comply with Virginia’s mandatory continuing education requirements, in violation of Rules 1.3, 1.15(a)(2) and 5.5(a)(1) of the Virginia Rules of Professional Conduct.
STACK, Richard - Commission Reprimand for his failure, at an ex parte proceeding, to bring to the Court’s attention the issue that two of the three Defendants contested process of service. The failure to do so prevented the tribunal from making an informed decision. Respondent’s conduct violates Maryland Lawyers’ Rules of Professional Conduct 8.4(a) and (d).
STEUART, R. Calvert - Commission Reprimand for failure to take appropriate action on his client’s behalf and to communicate with his client concerning the representation, in violation of Maryland Rules of Professional Conduct, Rules 1.3 and 1.4.
STOFFAN, Philip M. - Disbarred by Consent on May 10, 2010 by the Court of Appeals, based upon a reciprocal disciplinary matter arising from Respondent’s 3-year suspension in the state of Michigan for mail fraud, in violation of Maryland Lawyers’ Rules of Professional Conduct 8.4(b) and 8.4(c).
STROUSE, James C. - Reprimand by Consent on September 15, 2009 by the Court of Appeals for lack of competence in preparing a power of attorney for an elderly client, naming a long-time client as the attorney-in-fact and thereafter suing the elderly client on behalf of the long-time client, in violation of Maryland Rules of Professional Conduct, Rules 1.1 and 8.4(d).
SUSS, Jonathan D. - Commission Reprimand for lack of competence and diligence for failure to obtain an abstract of title of client’s family Arkansas property and failure to examine client’s most-recent litigation to ascertain whether it was still possible to enter his title opinion letter in the case; as Respondent was not and was never admitted to practice law in Arkansas, for failure to limit the scope of representation, failure to consult with the client and failure to permit his client to make informed decisions regarding the representation; for unreasonable attorney fee in light of Respondent’s misconduct; and for conflict of interest by entering into a business transaction with his client, borrowing $3,000 from client and preparing a promissory note, without advising his client in writing of the desirability of seeking advice of independent counsel on the Note and without giving client a reasonable opportunity to do so; in violation of Maryland Rules of Professional Conduct 1.1, 1.3; 1.2(c), 1.4(a)(4) and (b); 1.5(b); and 1.8(a).
THOMAS, C. Trent - 60-day Suspension on April 20, 2010 by the Court of Appeals for failure to provide diligent and competent representation to clients involved in proceedings at which he failed to appear, in violation of Maryland Rules of Professional Conduct 1.1 and 1.3.
THOMPSON, Robert Philip - Commission Reprimand for failure to include the attorney or firm name on his trust account and clearly designate the title of trust account on checks and deposit slips, from 9/1/08 - 1/31/09 he deposited earned fees and personal funds into the trust account, thereby commingling funds and failed to maintain client ledgers. In December, 2008 he issued a check to pay a personal obligation. His conduct was in violation of Maryland Rule of Professional Conduct 1.15 and Maryland Rules 16-606, 16-606.1 and 16-607.
TULLEY, Harold Joseph - Disbarred by Consent on September 1, 2009 by the Court of Appeals for filing a perjurious affidavit and failure to exercise diligence in representing bankruptcy clients. On October 15, 2007, he was indicted by a Harford County grand jury in a 21-count indictment, alleging theft, conspiracy to commit theft and accessory after-the-fact to theft. Pursuant to a plea agreement in that matter on August 17, 2009 the State entered a nolle prosequi of the charges in return for his agreement to consent to disbarment. His conduct violated the Maryland Rules of Professional Conduct, Rules 1.1, 1.2(a), 1.3, 1.4(a)(2) and (a)(3), 1.15, 3.3(a) and 8.4(b), (c) and (d); Maryland Rule of Procedure 16-604; and Md. Bus. Occ. & Prof. Code Ann., §10-304.
TYNES, Erika A. - Disbarred by Consent on September 2, 2009 by the Court of Appeals, effective thirty (30) days after the date of the Order. This case was in public charges following revocation of a Conditional Diversion Agreement and Supplemental Conditional Diversion Agreement (the CDAs) previously approved. The basis of the revocation was Respondent’s additional professional misconduct while subject to the CDAs, which included misrepresentations to a client about a court date, creating a counterfeit hearing notice faxed to a client and misrepresentations to Bar Counsel. Her conduct violated Maryland Rules of Professional Conduct, Rules 1.4, 8.1(a) and 8.4(a), (c) & (d).
VANZEGO, Raymond J. - Commission Reprimand relating to Respondent’s representation of a complaint for racial discrimination against Complainant’s employer in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland. During his representation he failed to file a Response to Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss his client’s Complaint. He advised the court orally on May 12, 2008 that he would not be filing an opposition. Subsequently, the court dismissed the Complaint. Respondent failed to advise his Complainant of Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss and his failure to file a Response until after the Court dismissed the Complaint, in violation of Maryland Lawyers’ Rules of Professional Conduct 1.3 and 1.4(a)(2).
VARES, Christopher K. - Indefinite Suspension by Consent on August 14, 2009 by the Court of Appeals. Interim Suspension was ordered October 31, 2006 based upon conviction of a crime (possession of a controlled dangerous substance), a violation of Maryland Rules of Professional Conduct, Rule 8.4(b). The Court’s August 14, 2009 Order makes an Indefinite Suspension the final disposition of the case.
WALTON, Charles E. - Commission Reprimand for conflict of interest when he and his co-counsel who represented a Homeowners Assn. (HOA), represented 2 individual Board Directors of and against the HOA as a defendant, that was directly adverse to another client and Respondent did not obtain or attempt to obtain the clients’ informed consent, confirmed in writing; for lack of competence, Respondent failed to demonstrate the legal knowledge, skill, thoroughness and preparation necessary for the representation of the HOA and the other clients; and conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice in that it was conduct likely to reflect negatively on the image of the legal profession, in violation of Maryland Rules of Professional Conduct 1.7, 1.1 and 8.4(d).
WEST, Brian Grayson - Disbarred on October 6, 2009 by the Court of Appeals for intentional misappropriation of trust funds, in violation of Maryland Rules of Professional Conduct, Rules 1.8(a), 1.15, 8.4(b), (c) and (d) and Business Occupations and Professions Article, §10-306.
WINER, Lisa I. - Commission Reprimand for failure to promptly advise opposing counsel that due to out-of-state medical treatment, Complainant would not be available for her deposition and/or failure to take any other steps to protect her interest, failure to promptly move to postpone the hearing, failure to advise Complainant of a Motion to Compel Discovery and for Sanctions and of the adverse affects it would have on Complainant’s case, and failure to adequately inform Complainant of the implications that her failure to appear at the hearing would have on her claims, in violation of Maryland Lawyers’ Rules of Professional Conduct 1.3 Reasonable diligence and promptness and 1.4 Communication.