Washington Lawyer - April/May 2018 - 44
DISCIPLINARY SUMMARIES >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Disciplinary Actions Taken by the District of Columbia Court of Appeals Original Matters In re Harold E. Brazil. Bar No. 190124. January 18, 2018. The D.C. Court of Appeals disbarred Brazil by consent, effective January 22, 2018. Reciprocal Matters In re Cyrus A. Bischoff. Bar No. 983732. January 25, 2018. In a reciprocal matter from Florida, the D.C. Court of Appeals imposed functionally equivalent reciprocal discipline and suspended Bischoff for two years with fitness. In Florida, Bischoff was found to have knowingly pursued frivolous claims, engaged in discovery misconduct, failed to comply with court orders, and intentionally lied to a tribunal. In re Wayne R. Hartke. Bar No. 200378. January 25, 2018. In a reciprocal matter from Virginia, the D.C. Court of Appeals imposed identical reciprocal discipline and suspended Hartke for five years. In Virginia, Hartke was found to have testified falsely when ordered to show cause why he had failed to appear on behalf of a client in a criminal matter. In re Rodney Michael Jones. Bar No. 993968. January 25, 2018. In a reciprocal matter from Maryland, the D.C. Court of Appeals imposed reciprocal discipline and disbarred Jones, nunc pro tunc to December 5, 2017. In Maryland, Jones acknowledged that sufficient evidence existed to sustain allegations he had violated Maryland Lawyers' Rules of Professional Conduct 1.1 (Competence), 1.3 (Diligence), 1.4 (Communication), 1.7 (Conflict of Interest), 1.15(a) (Safekeeping Property), 1.16(d) (Terminating Representation), 8.4(a) (Misconduct), and 8.4(d) (Conduct Prejudicial to the Administration of Justice). In re David M. Korrey. Bar No. 345389. January 25, 2018. In a reciprocal matter from Nevada, the D.C. Court of Appeals imposed reciprocal discipline and suspended Korrey for three months, stayed in favor of a six-month period of probation. In Nevada, Korrey was found to have failed to adequately supervise his nonlawyer assistants, resulting in conversion of entrusted funds and unauthorized practice of law. In re Melodie V. Shuler. Bar No. 488686. January 25, 2018. In a reciprocal matter from Maryland, the D.C. Court of Appeals imposed reciprocal discipline and disbarred Shuler. In Maryland, Shuler was disbarred for repeatedly failing to act on behalf of her incarcerated client, failing to visit her client to discuss the case, misrepresenting relevant legal information to her client, failing to investigate her client's case, and refusing to cooperate with disciplinary authorities. Interim Suspensions Issued by the District of Columbia Court of Appeals In re Olekanma A. EkekweKauffman. Bar No. 479967. January 3, 2018. Ekekwe-Kauffman was suspended on an interim basis pursuant to D.C. Bar R. XI, § 9(g), pending final action on the Board on Professional Responsibility's July 27, 2017, recommendation of disbarment. In re Barlow Smith. Bar No. 972695. January 10, 2018. Smith was suspended on an interim basis based upon discipline imposed in Texas. Informal Admonitions Issued by the Office of Disciplinary Counsel In re Denise M. Clark. Bar No. 420480. January 11, 2018. Disciplinary Counsel issued Clark an informal admonition. While retained to represent a client in a discrimination matter, Clark failed to file the federal claim within the statutory 90-day deadline, causing the matter to be dismissed. Rules 1.3(a) and 1.3(c). In re Henry N. Maturi. Bar No. 498767. December 20, 2017. Disciplinary Counsel issued Maturi an informal admonition. While retained to represent a client in removal proceedings, Maturi failed to ensure his client would be adequately represented at a merits hearing. Texas Disciplinary Rule of Professional Conduct 1.01(b)(1) as made applicable by D.C. Rule 8.5(b)(1). In re Laryce Woodyear. Bar No. 421849. January 11, 2018. Disciplinary Counsel issued Woodyear an informal admonition. While appointed by the District of Columbia Superior Court Probate Division as guardian and conservator for an elderly woman suffering from Alzheimer's, Woodyear frequently missed deadlines, failed to maintain the necessary documentation to support several expenditures, failed to safeguard the ward's car and will, and filed incomplete accountings. Rules 1.1(a), 1.1(b), 1.15(a), and 8.4(d). Disciplinary Actions Taken by the Board on Professional Responsibility Original Matters In re William E. Baroni Jr. Bar No. 468687. January 18, 2018. The Board on Professional Responsibility recommends that the D.C. Court of Appeals disbar Baroni, and that for purposes of reinstatement, Baroni's disbarment be deemed to run from October 10, 2017, the date of his interim suspension. Among other offenses, Baroni was convicted in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 2, 1343 and 1349, crimes involving moral turpitude per se, for which disbarment is mandatory under D.C. Code § 11-2503(a) (2001). In re Harold E. Brazil. Bar No. 190124. January 5, 2018. The Board on Professional Responsibility recommends that the D.C. Court of Appeals disbar Brazil by consent, effective January 22, 2018. In re Cary Clennon. Bar No. 366816. January 25, 2018. The Board on Professional Responsibility recommends that the D.C. Court of Appeals suspend Clennon for 60 days, stayed in favor of one-year probation, with conditions. In connection with his court-appointed representation of a criminal defendant, Clennon failed to represent the client zealously and diligently, failed to act with responsible promptness, failed to keep his client reasonably informed about the status of the matter and promptly comply with reasonable requests for information, failed to explain the matter to the extent reasonably necessary to permit the client to make informed decisions regarding the representation, engaged in conduct involving misrepresentation, and engaged in conduct that seriously interfered with the administration of justice. Rules 1.3(a), 1.3(c), 1.4(a), 1.4(b), 3.3(a) (1), 8.4(c), and 8.4(d). The Office of Disciplinary Counsel compiled the foregoing summaries of disciplinary actions. Informal Admonitions issued by Disciplinary Counsel and Reports and Recommendations issued by the Board on Professional Responsibility are posted at www.dcattorneydiscipline. org. Most board recommendations as to discipline are not final until considered by the court. Court opinions are printed in the Atlantic Reporter and also are available online for decisions issued since August 1998. To obtain a copy of a recent slip opinion, visit www.dccourts.gov courtof-appealsopinions-memorandum -of-judgments. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 44 WASHINGTON LAWYER * APRIL/MAY 2018 *