Case Title: Attorney Grievance v. Hunt

Citation: 

Docket Number: 1ag/12

State: maryland

Court: Maryland Supreme Court

Date: 2013-10-01T00:00:00Z

Document:
Attorney Grievance Commission of Maryland v. Mark Edward Hunt, Misc. Docket No. AG
1, September Term 2012.
ATTORNEY DISCIPLINE – SANCTIONS – DISBARMENT: Court of Appeals
disbarred attorney who deliberately omitted from his Bar Application 5 years of prior
criminal activities, including a conviction for violating federal tax laws and accepting bribes
while working as a Revenue Officer for the Internal Revenue Service, and submitted a false
Affirmation to the Board of Law Examiners, because such conduct violates Maryland
Lawyers’ Rules of Professional Conduct 8.1, 8.4 (a), (c), & (d), as adopted by Maryland Rule
16-812.
Circuit Court for Baltimore City
Case No.: 24-C-1200-1481
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF
MARYLAND
Misc. Docket AG No. 1
September Term, 2012
ATTORNEY GRIEVANCE COMMISSION
OF MARYLAND
v.
MARK EDWARD HUNT
Barbera, C.J.
Harrell
Battaglia
Greene
Adkins
                      McDonald
                      *Bell,
JJ.
Opinion by Bell, C.J. (Retired)
Filed: October 1, 2013
*Bell, C.J., now retired, participated in the
hearing and conference of this case while an
active member of this Court; after being recalled
pursuant to the Constitution, Article IV, Section
3A, he also participated in the decision and
adoption of this opinion. 
Prior to being admitted to the bar of the State of Maryland on June 16, 2009, Mark
Edward Hunt, the respondent, was, and had been since 1996, a Revenue Officer with the
Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”).   While so employed, he engaged in criminal activity with
an individual named Irvin Hannis Catlett, Jr., who operated a business called Tax
Resolutions, Inc., a vehicle for tax evasion.  Through this business, individual income tax
returns showing “bogus” tax losses from a purported car leasing and sales company were 
prepared and filed.  In exchange for monetary payments, the respondent provided Catlett with
confidential taxpayer information.  He also permitted Catlett to introduce him to his clients
as Catlett’s “man on the inside” of the IRS, thus assuring Catlett’s clients and potential
clients “that the tax returns to be prepared by Catlett’s company . . . would not be the subject
of adverse IRS actions.”  The respondent knew when he engaged in the criminal conduct that
it was wrong, and he has admitted as much.   Indeed, he plead guilty on September 8, 2010
1
to, and was sentenced on June 26, 2011 for, the unauthorized disclosure of return and return
information in violation of 26 U. S. C. § 7213 (a) (1).  
2
The respondent testified at Catlett’s trial, admitting accepting bribes in exchange
1
for confidential taxpayer information and other criminal acts in connection with his
relationship with Catlett.  He similarly admitted his criminal conduct in the Statement of
Facts incorporated into his plea agreement.
26 U. S. C. § 7213 (a) (1) provides:
2
“(a) Returns and return information.--
“(1) Federal employees and other persons.--It shall be unlawful for any officer
or employee of the United States or any person described in section 6103(n)
(or an officer or employee of any such person), or any former officer or
employee, willfully to disclose to any person, except as authorized in this title,
any return or return information (as defined in section 6103(b)). Any violation
of this paragraph shall be a felony punishable upon conviction by a fine in any
The respondent finished law school in 1993, and subsequently took the Maryland bar
examination multiple times without success.  In order to take the examination, he had first
to file a Bar Application, which was good for 5 years before having to be renewed.  The
respondent filed a new Bar Application in 2005.  Question 17 on that application inquired:
“Have there been any circumstances or unfavorable incidents in your life,
whether at school, college, law school, business or otherwise, which may have
a bearing upon your character or your fitness to practice law, not called for by
the questions contained in this questionnaire or disclosed in your answers?  
“If so, give full details, including any assertions or implication of dishonesty,
misconduct, misrepresentation, financial irresponsibility, and disciplinary
measures imposed (if any) by attaching a supplement[al] statement . . . .”
The respondent answered that question, “no.”  The information about his criminal activity
over a five-year period while he was an Internal Revenue Service agent, was material to the
determination of the respondent’s qualification to practice law, and its disclosure would have
been responsive to question 17. 
The respondent passed the February 2009 bar examination.  Several months earlier,
at the end of October 2008, after an interview with a federal agent, Catlett had learned that
criminal charges against him were imminent.  That was confirmed by his lawyer shortly after
he received his bar examination results.  He advised the respondent that he would be
amount not exceeding $5,000, or imprisonment of not more than 5 years, or
both, together with the costs of prosecution, and if such offense is committed
by any officer or employee of the United States, he shall, in addition to any
other punishment, be dismissed from office or discharged from employment
upon conviction for such offense.”
2
prosecuted if  the United States Attorney “decided that such a course of action would be in
the best interests of the government.”  Notwithstanding this knowledge and despite having
committed, in his 2005 application,  to do so in writing should there be “any changes in the
3
information disclosed in or sought by this questionnaire, including any pertinent facts
developed after the initial filing of this application and the facts of any incident occurring
subsequent to the initial filing of this application,” the respondent did not supplement the
application in regard to his criminal activities with Mr. Catlett or the impending prosecution
by the federal government. 
Just above the signature line, designated as 19, was a statement of the applicant’s
3
continuing duty to update the information contained in the application.  It provided:
“Affirmation of Applicant’s Duty of Full, Candid Disclosure and Applicant’s
Continuing Duty to Submit Written Notice of Changes to Information Sought
by the Application: I understand that the required disclosures in this
questionnaire are of a continuing nature.  I hereby acknowledge my duty to
respond fully and candidly to each question or required disclosure and to
ensure that my responses are accurate and current at all times until I am
formally admitted to the Bar of the State of Maryland.  I will advise the Board
immediately and in writing of any changes in the information disclosed in or
sought by this questionnaire, including any pertinent facts developed after the
initial filing of this application and the facts of any incident occurring
subsequent to the initial filing of this application.
“I do solemnly declare and affirm under the penalties of perjury, that the
matters and facts set forth in the foregoing application are true and correct.
“I have made and retained a copy of this entire application for my records and
for use in the event that the original is lost in the mail or during the character
investigation.”
3
The respondent did supplement his application, by letter dated April 6, 2009, as to a
December 31, 2007 breaking and entering charge that was entered “nolle prosequi.” 
Thereafter, the respondent, on May 3,  2009, signed and sent to the Maryland Board of Law
Examiners his Affirmation Form, affirming under penalties of perjury that “no changes had
taken place with respect to his personal situation which would reflect unfavorably on his
qualifications to be admitted to the Maryland Bar.” Nor did the respondent inform Robert
Ferguson, Esq., the Character Committee member who conducted his character investigation,
of his criminal activities between 1999 and 2004 or that criminal charges against him  were
being contemplated by the United States Attorney’s office.  Had he done so, Mr. Ferguson
would not have recommended him for admission.
The respondent was indicted on March 10, 2010.   Thereafter, he, acting through his
4
criminal counsel, informed the Attorney Grievance Commission of Maryland (“the
petitioner”) that he had been indicted.  The petitioner, acting through Bar Counsel and
pursuant to Maryland Rule 16-751 (a),   filed a Petition for Disciplinary or Remedial Action
5
against the respondent.  The petitioner alleged that the respondent violated Rules 8.1, Bar
The indictment charged, inter alia, that the respondent, while an IRS Revenue
4
Officer, accepted payments from Catlett in return for IRS taxpayer information and
permitted himself to be introduced as Catlett’s “man on the inside” of the IRS.
Maryland Rule 16-751 (a) provides, in relevant part:
5
“(a) Commencement of disciplinary or remedial action. (1) Upon  approval or
direction of the Commission, Bar Counsel shall file a Petition for Disciplinary
or Remedial Action in the Court of Appeals.”
4
Admissions and  Disciplinary Matters,  and 8.4, Misconduct,  of the Maryland Lawyers’
6
7
Rules of Professional Conduct (“MLRPC”), as adopted by Maryland Rule 16-812. 
Pursuant to Maryland Rule 16-752 (a), we referred the Petition to the Honorable
Michael W. Reed of the Circuit Court for Baltimore City, for the evidentiary hearing required
by Maryland Rule 16-757.   Following that evidentiary hearing,  Judge Reed  issued, pursuant
8
Rule 8.1 of the Maryland Lawyers Rules of Professional Conduct (“MLRPC”)
6
provides:
“An applicant for admission or reinstatement to the Bar, or a lawyer in
connection with a bar admission application or in connection with a
disciplinary matter, shall not:
“(a) knowingly make a false statement of material fact; or
“(b) fail to disclose a fact necessary to correct a
misapprehension known by the person to have arisen in the
matter, or knowingly fail to respond to a lawful demand for
information from an admissions or disciplinary authority, except
that this Rule does not require disclosure of information
otherwise protected by Rule 1.6.”
MLRPC 8.4 (a)-(d) provide:
7
“It is professional misconduct for a lawyer to:
“(a) violate or attempt to violate the Maryland Lawyers’ Rules of
Professional Conduct, knowingly assist or induce another to do so, or
do so through the acts of another;
“(b) commit a criminal act that reflects adversely on the lawyer’s
honesty, trustworthiness or fitness as a lawyer in other respects
“(c) engage in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit or
misrepresentation;
“(d) engage in conduct that is prejudicial to the administration of 
justice[.]”
Maryland Rule 16-757 provides, in relevant part:
8
“(a) Generally.  The hearing of a disciplinary or remedial action is governed
by the rules of evidence and procedure applicable to a court trial in a civil
action tried in a circuit court.  Unless extended by the Court of Appeals, the
5
to Maryland Rule 16-757 (c),  the Findings of Fact set out above.  From those findings of
9
fact, he concluded that the respondent violated MLRPC 8.1 (a) and (b) and 8.4 (b), (c), and
(d).
With regard to the MLRPC 8.1 (b) violation, Judge Reed, having determined that the
information concerning the respondent’s criminal activities from 1999 to 2004 was material,
as it would have impacted the admission authority’s assessment of his qualification to
practice law,  concluded that the violation was shown by his failure to disclose that
10
information in the first instance when he submitted his application, as well as by his failure
to update his application as required and to which he had agreed.  That failure of disclosure,
hearing shall be completed within 120 days after service on the respondent of
the order designating a judge.  Before the conclusion of the hearing, the judge
may permit any complainant to testify, subject to cross-examination, regarding
the effect of the alleged misconduct.  A respondent attorney may offer, or the
judge may inquire regarding, evidence otherwise admissible of any remedial
action undertaken relevant to the allegations.  Bar Counsel may respond to any
evidence or remedial action.”
Maryland Rule 16-757 (c) states:
9
“(c) Findings and conclusions.  The judge shall prepare and file or dictate
into the record a statement of the judge’s findings of fact, including
findings as to any evidence regarding remedial action, and conclusions of
law.  If dictated into the record, the statement shall be promptly transcribed. 
Unless the time is extended by the Court of Appeals, the written or
transcribed statement shall be filed with the clerk responsible for the record
no later than 45 days after the conclusion of the hearing.  The clerk shall
mail a copy of the statement to each party.”
Judge Reed cited Attorney Grievance Comm’n v. Gilbert, 307 Md. 481, 515 A. 2d
10
454 (1986) for another definition of “materiality,” as information that “has the effect of
inhibiting efforts of the bar to determine an applicant’s fitness to practice law.”  As we see
it, this is just the other side of the same coin. 
6
both when the application was submitted and later, during the time of its pendency, was
intentional, Judge Reed also concluded, citing the respondent’s choice, which Judge Reed
characterized as “purposeful and artful,” “to disclose only the criminal activity that he did
not believe would impact negatively on his Bar Application, that is, the criminal matter that
resulted in a nolle prosequi” and the lack of a plausible explanation for the non-disclosure
“other than that he ‘forgot.’”11
The respondent’s signing and submitting of the Affirmation Form, in which he
affirmed that the status quo ante remained the case as of the date of its submission, is the
basis for Judge Reed’s conclusion that the respondent violated MLRPC 8.1 (a) and (b).  As
he explained:
“The Respondent’s declaration and affirmation were false.  The Respondent
was fully aware as of March 10, 2009 that he may be prosecuted by the U. S.
Attorney’s Office for having engaged in criminal activities with Catlett from
1999-2004.  That information was clearly material in determining his character
and fitness to practice law.  Nevertheless, the Respondent intentionally
submitted a false Affirmation to the Maryland Board of Law Examiners.  The
Respondent, therefore, violated MRPC 8.1(a).  The Respondent’s false
Affirmation also failed to disclose a fact necessary to correct a
misapprehension to the admissions authority.  The Respondent failed to, again,
with his Affirmation disclose his criminal conduct during 1999-2004 to the
Maryland [State] Board of Law Examiners.  The Respondent, therefore, also
violated MRPC 8.1(b).”
Judge Reed rejected another basis offered by the respondent for non-disclosure of
11
the possible  pending criminal charges, that he was under the “mistaken belief” that
disclosure was required only after he had been charged and convicted.  Judge Reed also
credited expert testimony, given by the Director of Character and Fitness of the Maryland
State Board of Law Examiners, and Mr. Ferguson of the Character Committee for the Sixth
Appellate Circuit, that charge and conviction was not a prerequisite to his disclosure
obligation. 
7
The respondent’s conviction, pursuant to the plea agreement, is the basis for the
MLRPC 8.4 (b) violation.  In drawing this conclusion, the hearing judge rejected the
respondent’s argument that, because he was not a lawyer when the criminal acts forming the
basis for the conviction were committed, from 1999-2004, 5 years before he was admitted
to the bar, that Rule does not apply.  Instead,  the hearing judge relied on Office of
Disciplinary Counsel v. Clark, 531 N. E. 2d 671, 672 (Ohio 1988) reinstatement granted sub
nom. Disciplinary Counsel v. Clark, 66 Ohio St. 3d 1223, 614 N.E. 2d 758 (1993).  There,
the lawyer was found to have violated  DR 1-102 (A) (3) and (6), which provided:
“A lawyer shall not:
* * *
“(3) Engage in illegal conduct involving moral turpitude.
* * *
“(6) Engage in any conduct that adversely reflects on his fitness to practice
law.”
Challenging the conclusion that he violated these Rules, the attorney in Clark emphasized
that he committed his illegal acts prior to becoming an attorney and, therefore,  neither  DR
1-102(A)(3) nor  DR 1-102(A)(6) may be applied to him.   The Supreme Court of Ohio,
rejecting that argument, opined:
“However, because respondent was convicted for his offenses after he became
a member of the Ohio Bar, we do not find it necessary to pass upon whether
he may be disciplined for conduct committed before his admission. Clearly, an
attorney’s conviction of felony charges relating to drug smuggling and tax
evasion reflects adversely on his fitness to practice law. Furthermore, we find
8
respondent’s violation of DR 1-102(A)(6) so serious that it warrants severe
disciplinary measures, regardless of whether he also violated DR
1-102(A)(3).”
Clark,  531 N.E. 2d at 672.
With regard to MLRPC 8.4 (c), Judge Reed concluded:
“After Respondent was admitted to the Maryland Bar on June 16, 2009, the
Respondent did nothing to correct his omission to either the admissions
authority or the disciplinary authority.  Even after active discussions with the
U. S. Attorney’s Office concerning implications of criminal charges that would
be filed against him, as clearly evidenced in [the respondent’s lawyer]’s March
10, 2009 letter, Respondent deliberately remained silent until a formal
indictment was filed against him one year later, on March 10, 2010.  The
Respondent, by way of his omission, concealed from both the disciplinary
authority and admissions authority, his involvement in the criminal activities
with Catlett.  The Respondent’s omission of such material information was
purposeful and calculating with the intent to deceive the admissions authority
in their admissions process to avoid the possibility of being denied admission
to the Bar.  Even after his admission to the Bar, Respondent continued to
engage in dishonest conduct by claiming that his alcohol problem contributed
to his failure to disclose his criminal activities in 1999-2004 in his 2005 Bar
Application, all the while never having disclosed the alcohol problem in the
same application.  The Respondent’s deliberate, continual failure to disclose
his criminal activities of 1999-2004 to the admissions authority violated
MRPC 8.4(c).”
Finally, Judge Reed concluded that “[t]aken in its totality, the Respondent’s conduct
was prejudicial to the administration of justice, and therefore violated M[L]RPC 8.4(d).”  He
also determined that the respondent had not provided any evidence to mitigate his
misconduct.
Neither the petitioner nor the respondent has filed exceptions to the Findings of Fact
and Conclusions of Law.  Accordingly, as to the former, we shall “treat the findings of fact
9
as established for the purpose of determining appropriate sanctions, if any.”  Maryland Rule
16-759 (b) (2) (A).   On the other hand, we “shall  review de novo the circuit court judge’s
conclusions of law,” as Rule 16-759 (b) (1) mandates that we do.   Our de novo review of the
conclusions of law drawn by Judge Reed convinces us that they are supported by the facts
found, and so we shall accept and adopt them.
Turning to the question of the appropriate disposition,  the petitioner filed its
12
Petitioner’s Recommendation for Sanctions.   It is that the respondent be disbarred.  Relying
on Attorney Grievance Comm’n v. Joehl, 335 Md. 83, 95, 642 A. 2d 194, 200 (1994), in
which the attorney failed to disclose that his license had been suspended multiple times and
he had been arrested for battery, and Attorney Grievance Comm’n v. Gilbert, 307 Md. 481,
515 A. 2d 454 (1986), in which the attorney did not disclose a civil suit in which he was
plaintiff, and particularly this Court’s admonition that “no moral character qualification to
practice law is more important than truthfulness and candor,” Id. at 496, 515 A. 2d at 461-62,
the petitioner reasons:
“In the instant case, the Respondent was found to have deliberately failed to
disclose to the admissions authority his acceptance of bribes and illegal
disclosure of confidential taxpayer information to a convicted felon in
exchange for cash during his employment with the IRS as a Revenue Officer.
He engaged in such criminal activities for five (5) years, from 1999 to 2004. 
He ‘purposefully and artfully’ omitted his criminal activities from his Bar
Application and submitted a false Affirmation to the Board of Law Examiners. 
... Judge Reed found that ‘[t]he Respondent’s omission of such material
The respondent did not appear for oral argument.  On that same date, the Court
12
issued an order disbarring the respondent, opinion to follow. Attorney Grievance Comm’n
v. Hunt, 429 Md. 523, 56v A.3d 785 (2012).
10
information was purposeful and calculating with the intent to deceive the
admissions authority in their admissions process to avoid the possibility of
being denied admission to the Bar.’ ...  The Respondent’s unmitigated
intentional dishonest conduct warrants disbarment.” 
We agree with this analysis and, accordingly,  adopt the petitioner’s recommendation. 
For these reasons, we disbar the respondent.
11