Title: Matter of Member of the Bar: Vavala, III

State: delaware

Issuer: Delaware Supreme Court

Document:

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE 
 
IN THE MATTER OF A MEMBER 
OF THE BAR OF THE SUPREME 
COURT OF DELAWARE: 
 
DONALD C. VAVALA, III, 
 
Respondent.  
§ 
§  No. 21, 2019 
§ 
§  Board Case No. 113845-B 
§ 
§ 
§ 
 
Submitted:   February 3, 2019 
Decided:   March 14, 2019 
 
Before STRINE, Chief Justice; VALIHURA and SEITZ, Justices. 
 
O R D E R 
 
It appears to the Court that: 
(1) 
This is a lawyer disciplinary proceeding.  On January 14, 2019, a panel 
of the Board on Professional Responsibility (“the Board”) filed its Report with this 
Court, recommending that the respondent, Donald C. Vavala, III, be suspended from 
the practice of law in Delaware for a period of 15 months, retroactive to the date of 
Vavala’s interim suspension on May 3, 2018.  Neither the Office of Disciplinary 
Counsel (“ODC”) nor Vavala has filed any objections to the Board’s report.  
(2) 
The Court has considered the matter carefully.  Vavala admitted the 
ethical violations alleged in the ODC’s petition against him.  The Board carefully 
considered Vavala’s ethical violations, his knowing state of mind, the potential 
injury and actual injury, the presumptive sanction, and all of the applicable 
aggravating and mitigating factors.  Under the circumstances, we find the Board’s 
 
2 
recommendation of a 15-month suspension to be appropriate.  We therefore accept 
the Board’s findings and recommendation for discipline.   
 
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS ORDERED that the Board’s Report filed on 
January 14, 2019 (attached hereto) is ACCEPTED.  Donald C. Vavala, III is hereby 
SUSPENDED from the practice of law in Delaware for a period of 15 months 
beginning May 3, 2018.  Vavala shall pay the cost of the disciplinary proceedings.  
The Office of Disciplinary Counsel shall disseminate this Order in accordance with 
Rule 14 of the Delaware Lawyers’ Rules of Disciplinary Procedure. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
BY THE COURT:  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ Leo E. Strine, Jr. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Chief Justice