Washington Lawyer - January/February 2022 - 44

DISCIPLINARY SUMMARIES
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Disciplinary Actions Taken by the
District of Columbia Court of Appeals
Original Matters
In re Kevin E. Clinesmith. Bar No. 984265.
September 2, 2021. The D.C. Court of Appeals
accepted Clinesmith's petition for negotiated
discipline and suspended him for one year,
nunc pro tunc to August 25, 2020, for violations
of Rules 8.4(b), 8.4(c), and D.C. Bar R. XI, §10(d).
Clinesmith pled guilty to one count of making
a false statement in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1001
(a)(3) for his actions in modifying a document
while employed as assistant general counsel in
the National Security and Cyber Law Branch of
the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Office of
General Counsel.
In re Donald R. Harris. Bar No. 485340. August
26, 2021. The D.C. Court of Appeals disbarred
Harris for intentional misappropriation and
ordered that he pay restitution in the amount
of $2,500, with statutory interest calculated
from January 3, 2017, as a condition for reinstatement.
While retained to assist a client with
the return of her minor children who were in
the custody of a local child services agency,
Harris dishonestly and fraudulently charged
fees in a child custody case that he was not
able to handle, failed to adequately explain the
matter to the client, failed to maintain records,
intentionally misappropriated the client's funds,
violated the Rules pertaining to the treatment
of advance unearned fees, submitted false
billing statements to Disciplinary Counsel, and
knowingly made a false statement of fact in
connection with a disciplinary matter in violation
of Rules 1.4(b), 1.5(a), 1.15(a), 1.15(e), 8.1(a),
and 8.4(c).
In re Pamela A. McLean. Bar No. 497891.
September 30, 2021. The D.C. Court of Appeals
accepted McLean's petition for negotiated discipline
and suspended her for 60 days, with 30
days stayed in favor of one year of probation.
During this period McLean cannot engage in
misconduct in this or any other jurisdiction and
must complete 12 hours of CLE courses preapproved
by Disciplinary Counsel for violations
of Rules 1.6(a)(1) and 1.7(b)(4).
In re David H. Miller. Bar No. 482782. September
16, 2021. The D.C. Court of Appeals disbarred
Miller. A jury in the U.S. District Court for the
Eastern District of Virginia found Miller guilty on
10 felony counts: one count of conspiracy to
commit mail and wire fraud (18 U.S.C. § 1349),
one count of conspiracy to launder monetary
instruments (18 U.S.C. § 1956(h)), four counts of
mail fraud (18 U.S.C. §§ 2 and 1341), and four
counts of wire fraud (18 U.S.C. §§ 2 and 1343).
Mail and wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit
mail and wire fraud, are crimes involving moral
turpitude per se for which disbarment is mandatory
under D.C. Code § 11-2503(a).
In re Thomas Ian Moir. Bar No. 978531.
September 2, 2021. The D.C. Court of Appeals
disbarred Moir. Moir pled guilty in the U.S.
District Court for the District of Columbia to one
count of distribution of child pornography in
violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2252(a)(2), a crime
involving moral turpitude for which disbarment
is mandatory under D.C. Code § 11-2503(a).
Reciprocal Matters
In re Ernest P. Francis. Bar No. 439894.
September 30, 2021. In a reciprocal matter from
Virginia, the D.C. Court of Appeals imposed
equivalent reciprocal discipline and disbarred
Francis. Francis consented to revocation in
Virginia after being found to have made substantive
decisions regarding a representation
without the client's knowledge or consent,
including the unauthorized rejection of two
settlement offers and filing of frivolous
pleadings.
In re Vandy L. Jamison Jr. Bar No. 437771. August
12, 2021. In a reciprocal matter from Maryland,
the D.C. Court of Appeals imposed reciprocal
discipline and indefinitely suspended Jamison
from the practice of law in the District of
Columbia pursuant to D.C. Bar R. XI, § 13(e)
(Claim of disability by attorney).
In re Edward Juan Lynum. Bar No. 984805. August
12, 2021. In a reciprocal matter from Florida, the
D.C. Court of Appeals imposed reciprocal discipline
and disbarred Lynum. In Florida, Lynum was
found to have harassed opposing counsel and
judges, including filing frivolous lawsuits, threatening
violence, and making unfounded claims of
criminal activity or judicial bias.
In re Gregory J. Milton. Bar No. 978857.
September 30, 2021. In a reciprocal matter from
Maryland, the D.C. Court of Appeals imposed
In re Christopher B. Shedlick. Bar No. 1010480.
August 12, 2021. In a reciprocal matter from
Virginia, the D.C. Court of Appeals imposed
reciprocal discipline and suspended Shedlick
for three months, subject to the conditions
imposed in Virginia. In Virginia, Shedlick was
found to have failed to maintain adequate
records of his handling of entrusted funds such
that he would be unable to complete a satisfactory
reconciliation of his account.
In re Jon E. Shields. Bar No. 431003. August 12,
2021. In a reciprocal matter from Virginia, the
D.C. Court of Appeals imposed equivalent reciprocal
discipline and disbarred Shields. In Virginia,
Shields was found to have failed to account for
an advance legal fee, failed to return unearned
fees, failed to communicate with a client, and
failed to consult with a client before accepting a
settlement.
Interim Suspensions Issued by the D.C.
Court of Appeals
In re William Elvin Hopkins Jr. Bar No. 1004177.
August 9, 2021. Hopkins was suspended on an
interim basis based upon discipline imposed in
South Carolina.
In re Matthew H. Swyers. Bar No. 455692.
September 16, 2021. Swyers was suspended on
an interim basis based upon discipline imposed
in Virginia.
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44 WASHINGTON LAWYER * JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022
equivalent reciprocal discipline and indefinitely
suspended Milton with fitness and the right to
seek reinstatement after five years or reinstatement
by the state of Maryland, whichever occurs
first. In Maryland, Milton was found to have failed
to respond to multiple requests for information
regarding his handling of entrusted funds, filed
frivolous motions, and made prohibited cash
withdrawals from his attorney trust account.
In re John T. Riely. Bar No. 391840. August 12,
2021. In a reciprocal matter from Maryland, the
D.C. Court of Appeals imposed equivalent reciprocal
discipline and suspended Riely for one year
with fitness. In Maryland, Riely was found to
have failed to appear on behalf of clients at
immigration status hearings, failed to file a visa
extension application, and made misleading
statements to a client, an immigration official,
and Maryland Bar Counsel to conceal his
misconduct.
Washington Lawyer - January/February 2022

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