Washington Lawyer - September/October 2024 - 43

DISCIPLINARY SUMMARIES
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tions of Rules 1.1(a), 1.1(b), 1.4(a), 1.4(b), 5.3(a),
and 5.3(b). While retained to represent a client
in an immigration matter, Gendelberg
failed to provide competent representation,
which resulted in a removal order; failed to
promptly inform the client of the outcome
of the hearing and the court's removal order;
failed to keep the client reasonably informed
about the status of the matter for the client
to make informed decisions regarding his
representation; and failed to adequately
supervise his paralegal and establish procedures
to call the court to confirm whether
the client was required to attend a hearing
in person.
Disciplinary Actions Taken
by Other Jurisdictions
In accordance with D.C. Bar Rule XI, § 11(c), the
D.C. Court of Appeals has ordered public notice
of the following nonsuspensory and nonprobationary
disciplinary sanctions imposed on
D.C. attorneys by other jurisdictions. To obtain
copies of these decisions, visit www.dcattorney
discipline.org and search by individual names.
In re Henry M. Bobotek. Bar No. 435005. On
January 19, 2024, the Supreme Court of Maryland
reprimanded Bobotek for violations of
Maryland Rules 1.1 and 1.15 as well as section
14.5-810 of the Estates and Trusts Article of
the Maryland Code.
In re David A. Downes. Bar No. 416967. On
March 15, 2024, the Virginia State Bar reprimanded
Downes for violating Virginia Rule
1.15.
In re Joshua Horton. Bar No. 1655922. On October
30, 2023, a grievance committee of the
Supreme Court of Florida admonished Horton.
In
re Sari Karson Kurland. Bar No. 424297. On
July 23, 2021, the Attorney Grievance Commission
of Maryland reprimanded Kurland for
violating Maryland Rules 19-301.4, 19-301.5(c),
and 19-407.
In re John E. Williams. Bar No. 201442. On
February 20, 2024, the Virginia State Bar reprimanded
Williams for violating Virginia Rule
1.5.
Disciplinary Actions Taken by the Board
on Professional Responsibility Hearing
Committees on Negotiated Discipline
In re John P. Mahoney. Bar No. 442839. May 6,
2024. The Board on Professional Responsibility's
Ad Hoc Hearing Committee recommended
that the D.C. Court of Appeals accept
Disciplinary Counsel's and Mahoney's
joint petition for negotiated discipline and
suspend him for 60 days, with 30 days stayed
in favor of one year of probation with conditions,
for violations of Rules 1.4(a), 1.16(d),
5.1(b), and 5.1(c)(2).
In re Rachelle Young. Bar No. 997809. May 6,
2024. The Board on Professional Responsibility's
Ad Hoc Hearing Committee recommended
that the D.C. Court of Appeals accept
Disciplinary Counsel's and Young's joint
petition for negotiated discipline and suspend
her for 30 days, fully stayed in favor of
one year of probation with conditions, for violations
of Rules 1.3(a), 1.4(a), 1.4(b), and
1.16(d).
Disciplinary Actions Taken by the
Board on Professional Responsibility
Original Matters
In re Michael Alexei. Bar No. 999055. May 8,
2024. The Board on Professional Responsibility
recommended that Alexei receive an informal
admonition. While retained to represent
a client in a matter before the United
States Citizenship and Immigration Services,
Alexei violated Rule 1.6(a)(1) when he made
statements in a withdrawal notice that revealed
the client's confidences or secrets.
In re Jehan A. Carter. Bar No. 1018067. May 6,
2024. The Board on Professional Responsibility
recommended that the D.C. Court of Appeals
suspend Carter for 60 days. Carter filed
a small-claims complaint against a former client
asserting that the client's bar complaint
against her had been " dismissed because it
was unsubstantiated. " In fact, the bar complaint
led to a disciplinary action against Carter
that was still pending at the time of her
small-claims complaint. The Board found that
Carter violated Rule 3.3(a)(1) by making a
knowingly false statement to a tribunal and
Rule 8.4(c) by engaging in conduct involving
dishonesty.
In re Rudolph W. Giuliani. Bar No. 237255. May
31, 2024. The Board on Professional Responsibility
recommended that the D.C. Court of
Appeals disbar Giuliani for violations of Pennsylvania
Rules 3.1 (which states in relevant
part that a lawyer " shall not bring or defend a
proceeding, or assert or controvert an issue
therein, unless there is a basis in law and fact
for doing so that is not frivolous, which included
a good faith argument for an extension,
modification or reversal of existing law " )
and 8.4(d) (which prohibits a lawyer from engaging
in conduct that is prejudicial to the
administration of justice). This matter arises
out of arguments Giuliani made in a Pennsylvania
federal lawsuit following the 2020 presidential
election. In that lawsuit, Giuliani alleged
that seven " Democratic-majority
controlled " county boards of elections " blatantly
violated the protections and procedures,
including those enacted by the Pennsylvania
General Assembly, vitally necessary
to ensure that the votes of the citizens of
Pennsylvania are not illegally diluted by invalid
ballots and that the election is free and
fair. " Giuliani further alleged that the county
boards of elections " stuff[ed] the ballot box "
with illegal Biden votes. Among other relief,
Giuliani requested that the federal district
court declare the 2020 presidential election
in Pennsylvania " defective " and permit the
Pennsylvania General Assembly to choose
Pennsylvania's electors. Alternatively, Giuliani
requested that the court enjoin election certification
on a Commonwealth-wide basis or
enjoin election certification that included
ballots canvassed without observation and/
or ballots that were allowed to be cured under
local " Notice and Cure " procedures in
those counties.
In re Kristopher E. Twomey. Bar No. 979338.
May 31, 2024. The Board on Professional Responsibility
recommended that the D.C.
Court of Appeals suspend Twomey for two
years. While retained to represent two telecommunications
companies seeking regula>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER
2024 * WASHINGTON LAWYER 43
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Washington Lawyer - September/October 2024

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