Opinion ID: 2286297
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The Harris Case

Text: Leland Harris retained respondent to represent him in a civil case in Maryland. Respondent filed a complaint on his behalf purporting to bear the signature of Ms. Woolfolk and her certification that she was a member of the Maryland Bar. Respondent admitted that he signed Ms. Woolfolk's name to the complaint, but he contended that he had her permission to do so. The Hearing Committee found, and the Board accepted, that he filed a false and forged document to corroborate his contentions, consisting of a letter signed with Ms. Woolfolk's name and an affidavit of his administrative manager averring falsely that Ms. Woolfolk had signed the complaint. In connection with the Harris case, respondent was charged with violation of the Rules of Professional Conduct of the District of Columbia and/or the Rules of Professional Conduct of Maryland, as made applicable by Rule 8.5(b) of the District's rules as follows: Rule 5.5(a) (practicing law in a jurisdiction in violation of the regulation of the legal profession in that jurisdiction); Rule 8.4(a) (violating rules of professional conduct through the acts of another); Rule 8.4(b) (committing criminal acts (forgery and fraud) that reflect adversely on the lawyer's honesty, trustworthiness and/or fitness in other respects); Rule 8.4(c) (engaging in conduct involving fraud, dishonesty, deceit and/or misrepresentation); and Rule 8.4(d) (engaging in conduct that seriously interferes with the administration of justice). The Board's findings and conclusions are supported by the record. Again, respondent challenges the credibility of the witness, Ms. Woolfolk, in this case. This belated attack on her credibility provides no basis for overturning the Board's determination.