Washington Lawyer - November/December 2024 - 40

DISCIPLINARY SUMMARIES
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tial unfavorable decision in the name of the
wrong party but failed to correct that error
and failed to file a brief in the matter. He then
hid the dismissal of the appeal and the reason
for it from his client, and he persuaded
the client instead to pursue six years of fruitless
litigation seeking to undo his own error,
at a cost of $20,000. The Board found that
Kreiss charged an unreasonable fee and further
that he failed to keep records of entrusted
funds and failed to return the client's file
and papers.
In re Kissinger N. Sibanda. Bar No. 1017426.
July 30, 2024. The Board on Professional Responsibility
recommended that the D.C.
Court of Appeals suspend Sibanda for 30
days with reinstatement conditioned on his
completion of six hours of CLE courses on legal
ethics, including at least three hours focused
on protection of client confidences
and secrets, during or before the period of
suspension, for violations of New York Rule
1.18(b) (disclosing information learned in consultation
with prospective client). This matter
arose from a dispute with a prospective client
who consulted with Sibanda but decided
not to hire him. Thereafter, Sibanda disclosed
information he learned from the consultation
in an intentional effort to harm the former
prospective client.
In re Steven Villarreal. Bar No. 482284. June
24, 2024. The Board on Professional Responsibility
recommended that the D.C. Court of
Appeals suspend Villarreal for 30 days, stayed
in favor of one year of unsupervised probation
with terms, for violations of Rules 1.1(a),
1.1(b), and 1.3(a). Specifically, Villarreal was
hired to file an immigration petition but
failed to obtain the documentation that was
required to support the petition, and then
filed a document that was patently deficient.
Villarreal thereby failed to provide competent
representation and failed to represent the client
with diligence and zeal.
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.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/court-ofappeals/opinions-memorandum-of-judgments.
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WASHINGTON LAWYER
* NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2024

http://at.dcattorneydiscipline.org https://www.dccourts.gov/court-of-appeals/opinions-memorandum-of-judgments https://www.dccourts.gov/court-of-appeals/opinions-memorandum-of-judgments http://lawyershaveheartdc.org

Washington Lawyer - November/December 2024

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