Opinion ID: 2258485
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Respondent's General Denial

Text: While acknowledging that the adequacy of respondent's letter in response to Bar Counsel's initial inquiry formed no basis for the conclusion that he violated D.C. R. Prof. Conduct 8.4(d), Bar Counsel takes issue with the Board's conclusion that respondent's letter in response to the initial inquiry constituted a general denial. [6] The Board took into account respondent's initial response in making its recommended sanction; therefore, we consider it. An attorney under investigation has an obligation to respond to Bar Counsel's written inquiries in the conduct of an investigation, subject to constitutional limitations. D.C. Bar R. XI, § 8(a). The form or the essential elements of the response required is not specified in the rule. The Board has stated in its case law that an attorney who is notified by Bar Counsel about a complaint is entitled to make a general denial of the charges. See In re Confidential ( MJM ), Bar Docket No. 20-87, pp. 18-20 (BPR Nov. 8, 1991). Bar Counsel argues that respondent's letter would be insufficient to constitute a general denial under the civil rules of the Superior Court from which the concept was adopted, apparently. See Super. Ct. Civ. R. 8(b) (specifying the form of denials and defenses to an adverse party's claims). [7] Setting aside that the Board's procedures do not mandate that an attorney's response to Bar Counsel's inquiry meet the standard set forth in Super. Ct. Civ. R. 8(b), that rule simply calls for an admission or denial of the allegations or an effective denial when the pleader can assert that he or she lacks the knowledge and information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of an allegation. See Super. Ct. Civ. R. 8(b); see also Rubin v. Buckman, 727 F.2d 71, 72 (3d Cir.1984) (Under Fed.R.Civ.P. 8(b), an answer stating lack of sufficient information to know whether the allegation is true has the effect of a denial.). [8] The rule is also subject to the qualifications of Super. Ct. Civ. R. 8(e) calling for a simple, concise and direct statement. In short, the theory of Rule 8(b) is that the answer should apprise the opponent of those allegations in the complaint that stand admitted and will not be in issue at trial and those that are contested and will require proof to be established to enable the plaintiff to prevail. Charles Alan Wright & Arthur R. Miller, FEDERAL PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE § 1261 at 526 (3d ed. 2004). Even assuming that the rule were applicable to this disciplinary proceeding, contrary to Bar Counsel's position, respondent's letter would have been sufficient to apprise Bar Counsel of his position on the statements in the Auditor-Master's report, and it requested specification of the charges if any further response was required. Bar Counsel asserts, extracting from the Hearing Committee's report, that respondent's letter was not a denial, but simply a statement that there [would] be no substantive response to Bar Counsel's requests. However, as the Board recognized, respondent's letter clearly went much further than that. As the Board outlined in its report, respondent stated in his letter that the Auditor-Master's report contained no allegation of misconduct and that the Auditor-Master's accusations were reckless. He also explained that he did not understand the Auditor-Master's report, since he had informed her that he had notarized the deed for the decedent, Mr. Harold O. Butler, and his son, Mr. Roland Butler, the removed personal representative, both of whom appeared before him. Further, he answered that he had informed the Auditor-Master that he had no recollection as to Ms. Gary's signature, but he believed that Mr. Roland Butler had taken the deed to her for signature and that this was probably why the deed was not recorded. Respondent concluded his letter by requesting a detailed statement and specific accusations of misconduct if any further response was necessary. Respondent's answer, in which he denied that the facts alleged constituted misconduct on his part, challenged the Auditor-Master's accusation as reckless, explained his role in the questioned transaction and requested a specification of charges, if any further response was necessary, is sufficient to place Bar Counsel on notice that respondent denied engaging in any misconduct and what he had done in connection with the transaction. This is particularly so in light of the fact that Bar Counsel did not identify the alleged misconduct to which she referred in the Auditor-Master's report or direct respondent to address any specific statements in the report. Under these circumstances, we agree with the Board that, insofar as Bar Counsel's initial inquiry is concerned, respondent's letter was adequate to comply with D.C. Bar R. XI, § 8 (requiring attorneys under investigation to respond to Bar Counsel's written inquiries).