Opinion ID: 1961094
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Respondent's Legal Exceptions

Text: Respondent excepts to the petitioner's Petition for Disciplinary Action and this Court's subsequent order, both of which were filed pursuant to Md. Rule 16-709. Respondent contends that the use of the new Rules under Chapter 700 becoming effective on July 1, 2001 and replacing the Rules previously existing, was required. Respondent points to the fact that petitioner's petition was filed on November 1, 2001, after the July 1, 2001 effective date. Thus he claims that the petition, and any subsequent order by this Court, had no power because the rules used were no longer applicable. This contention has no merit. This disciplinary proceeding was initiated well before the newer rules became effective on July 1, 2001; respondent overlooks this fact. [11] Mr. Lobo's complaint was docketed after receipt of his letter by Bar Counsel during March of 1998. After a thorough investigation, the matter was forwarded to an Inquiry Panel. A hearing took place on July 25, 2000, at which respondent did not appear. Regardless of the fact that it found that respondent had adequate notice of that Inquiry Panel hearing, the Review Board, on December 13, 2000, remanded the matter to the Inquiry Panel for a new hearing on the merits in order to safeguard against any argument that respondent's due process rights were adversely affected. That hearing occurred on February 28, 2001 and the matter was subsequently forwarded to the Review Board to file charges. The fact that these procedures all occurred before July 1, 2001 illustrates that respondent's disciplinary proceeding had been docketed, investigated, submitted to the Inquiry Panel and forwarded to the Review Board well before the rules changing this procedure went into effect. This disciplinary proceeding was correctly in the system pursuant to the rules in place at that time. As a result, all orders, filings, hearings and decisions made after July 1, 2001, including the Review Board's July 11, 2001 direction for Bar Counsel to file charges, petitioner's November 1, 2001 Petition for Disciplinary Action, the March 2002 hearing before Judge Stevenson, Judge Stevenson's July 22, 2002 findings and this Court's orders and this decision, were all correctly submitted and processed, as required, under the Maryland Rules.
Respondent argues that his due process rights were violated by not being able to cross-examine the complainant, Mr. Lobo, in a courtroom within the jurisdiction of Maryland. This exception has no merit. We hold that respondent received adequate notice for all hearings and proceedings associated with this matter. On March 6, 2002, respondent also participated in the video-conference and taping of Mr. Lobo's deposition. Respondent and petitioner were located in Maryland, while Mr. Lobo was located in Australia. In fact, respondent was able to conduct a broad cross examination of the witness at that time. The fact that Mr. Lobo, and other witnesses subpoenaed by respondent, were beyond the subpoena power of this State does not violate respondent's due process rights. Again, after a thorough review of the record, we hold that respondent received sufficient notice throughout this disciplinary proceeding, all decisions were proved by clear and convincing evidence [12] and the proceeding was fair and consistent with all of respondent's constitutional rights.
Respondent excepts to the hearing court's admission of Mr. Lobo's deposition testimony pursuant to Md. Rule 2-419(a)(3)(D). [13] We overrule this exception, as the deposition was properly admitted under Rule 2-419(a)(3)(D). That rule states: Rule 2-419. DepositionUse.