Opinion ID: 2102487
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Attorney's Conduct Since Discipline Was Imposed, Including Steps Taken to Remedy Past Wrongs and to Prevent Future Ones

Text: Respondent's conduct since his disbarment offers no assurance that he has changed in ways that demonstrate that the public would be safe if he were reinstated. First, Respondent revealed his disdain for the truth by attempting to deceive the Hearing Committee and the Board as to the nature of the misconduct that led to his conviction. Second, Respondent operated an employment consulting business in the District of Columbia for over a decade without obtaining the appropriate license, in violation of the local law. Third, a jury found that Respondent violated the District of Columbia Human Rights Act by sexually harassing female customers who responded to his advertisements. Fourth, Respondent has made no effort to satisfy the judgment in the harassment case, and has made no effort to reimburse the government for the costs of the appeal from his criminal conviction. Finally, Respondent withheld potentially embarrassing information and made misrepresentations in several of his responses to the Reinstatement Questionnaire. Respondent has the burden of proving that his conduct since sanctions were imposed demonstrates sound character traits, and that he would be honest in his dealings with clients, vendors, peers, and the courts. We agree with the Hearing Committee that Respondent has not met his burden. To the contrary, Respondent's behavior since his disbarment confirms that he cannot be trusted to exercise the honesty or decorum expected of attorneys.