Opinion ID: 2680969
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Evidence Adduced at the Hearing

Text: The following evidence was adduced at the hearing of June 3-6, 2013. The Proposal and Narasimhan’s résumé were admitted into evidence. 4 In the Proposal, Narasimhan described herself as follows: “Being an immigrant [myself, I am] well-versed and ha[ve] a good knowledge of the immigration laws in this country[.]” 5 In 4 At the hearing, providing additional information about her background, Narasimhan testified that she was born August 21, 1975. Thus, at the time the complaint was filed in December 2011, Narasimhan was thirty-six years old. Narasimhan testified that prior to law school she had obtained a “bachelor’s of commerce degree” and a “diploma in computer application systems[.]” Narasimhan testified that she had worked in database programming and as a “webmaster,” editing a website for an organization. Narasimhan testified that prior to law school she had also served as the office manager of a law firm. 5 During the proposal process, Narasimhan communicated with a contract specialist from the District of Columbia Office of Contracting & Procurement. In an e-mail dated November 13, 2009, Narasimhan advised the contract specialist as follows: The attorney named as DC contact is ME. I have knowledge of Immigration law and have worked on a couple of Family petitions and Citizenship applications. . . . The principal point of contact with the g[overnment] will be ME. -7- her résumé, under her job description with ILG, Narasimhan stated that she had represented “Immigration clients in documentary immigration processes and litigation” and had handled “Family petitions and Citizenship applications.” Specifically, Narasimhan’s job description with ILG appeared on her résumé as follows: EXPERIENCE THE IMMIGRATION LAW GROUP (A Joint Venture), Alexandria, VA Attorney/Joint Venturer, July 20, 2009 – Present Representation of Immigration clients in documentary immigration processes and litigation. Handled Family petitions and Citizenship applications.[6] Before the hearing judge, Narasimhan testified that the job description under ILG stating “Representation of immigration clients, and documentary immigration processes and litigation” was not intended to describe her job experience, but instead “was the description of [ILG] and what it was formed to do” and was meant to be a prospective statement of the work she anticipated ILG to complete. When asked whether she informed anyone at the MPD that her “intention with that first sentence on [her] r[é]sum[é] was p[ro]spective and [] didn’t reflect any actual experience that [she] had[,]” Narasimhan answered that she “assumed they knew already[.]” Narasimhan testified that, at the time she submitted her résumé to the MPD, ILG had not handled any matters that had resulted in litigation. Narasimhan admitted that there is no such thing as a “Citizenship application” as stated on her résumé, and that “[w]hat [she] meant in layman terms is basically an N-400 Application for 6 Thereafter, Narasimhan listed other legal positions which she had held and described her job duties for each position. -8- Naturalization.” Narasimhan testified that she had handled only two Applications for Naturalization, one in 2007 and one in 2008, both before she formed ILG. When asked why she listed that she had experience with “Citizenship applications” under her job description with ILG, Narasimhan stated: “Because it was immigration experience, it was related experience, and my intent was to communicate the nature of my limited immigration experience in layman’s terms basically.” Narasimhan explained that the two Applications for Naturalization she had completed were done for her friends, and that she never received compensation for her work, was not retained by the individuals, and never entered her appearance with any government agency related to the applications. As to the statement on her résumé that she had handled “Family petitions,” Narasimhan admitted that she had completed only one family petition and that the plural word “petitions” on her résumé “was a typo.” Narasimhan admitted that the family petition that she listed on her résumé was actually prepared by Rogers, and her assistance was clerical. On November 30, 2009, after ILG’s representation of the MPD commenced, Narasimhan sent an e-mail to Haines outlining the “labor certification steps.” Narasimhan’s e-mail was forwarded to Rogers, who sent a reply e-mail to Narasimhan, stating: “This is good [Narasimhan]. Well done. I like your prompt response and dedication to customer service.” These two e-mails were admitted into evidence. As to the December 10, 2009, conference call in which Narasimhan did not participate, the hearing judge admitted into evidence an exchange of e-mails among Rogers, Haines, Dr. Samuel, and Narasimhan ranging from December 8, 2009, through December 10, 2009. In an e-mail dated December 8, 2009, Rogers provided Haines with -9- a brief outline of the EB-2 permanent residency classification and requested “some necessary information” to be discussed during the December 10, 2009, conference call, including Dr. Samuel’s professional and academic background and her current job description. Narasimhan was copied on the e-mail. The following day, Haines e-mailed Rogers, Narasimhan, and Dr. Samuel, and advised that she would be sending documents requested by Rogers, including a job description, copy of a proposed advertisement to be placed in a local newspaper, and a statement of work outlining Dr. Samuel’s duties. On December 10, 2009, Narasimhan responded that she would be unable to join the conference call, but stated that Rogers would share “both his and my thoughts[.]” The hearing judge admitted into evidence an e-mail sent by Haines after the conference call occurred, memorializing the topics discussed during the call. In the e- mail, Haines wrote that, among other things: (1) Rogers stated he would “review employment ads submitted by prior clients to see if the employment ad [that the MPD] sent [him] is sufficient”; (2) the parties had “discussed the interview process and whether [the MPD] can share the names of applicants who apply for jobs”; (3) Dr. Samuel had already completed Form 9089; and (4) Dr. Samuel would send information and documents for review. The hearing judge admitted into evidence a May 3, 2010, letter, in which the DOL advised the MPD that it was denying certification of Form 9089, and provided the following reasons for the denial: (1) six different items were incomplete on the application, including boxes to identify the occupation title and prevailing wage; (2) Form 9089 indicated that no notice of filing for a permanent employment certification - 10 - application was posted in a conspicuous location at the place of employment for ten business days; and (3) the newspaper advertisement placed by the MPD was not placed on a Sunday. The hearing judge admitted into evidence a February 2, 2012, letter, in which Narasimhan replied to Bar Counsel’s request for a response to Dr. Samuel’s complaint by denying any violation of the MLRPC and stating the following: Throughout the period that I represented the MPD, I consulted repeatedly with [] Rogers in order to check my conclusions, obtain his review of the documents, and the like, before I communicated advice to the MPD.