Opinion ID: 1530578
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: introduction

Text: Herschel D. Milliken, Esquire is the subject of two Petitions for Disciplinary Action filed by the Attorney Grievance Commission (AGC) of Maryland pursuant to Maryland Rule BV9. Bar Counsel, acting on the direction of the Review Board and pursuant to Maryland Rule BV7, filed charges against the Respondent pertaining to eight separate Complaints received by the Review Board. The charges related to each Complaint were set forth in the Petition for Disciplinary Action, case number 96022071. On January 18, 1996, the Court of Appeals ordered that the charges be transmitted to the Circuit Court for Baltimore City for service and hearing in accordance with Maryland Rule BV9. On February 13, 1996, Bar Counsel, again acting on the direction of the Review Board, filed a second set of charges against Respondent Milliken pertaining to two Complaints by former clients. The charges related to these two Complaints were set out in the second Petition for Disciplinary Action, Case number 96053040. On February 14, 1996, the Court of Appeals ordered that these new charges be transmitted to the Circuit Court for Baltimore City, and further ordered that the Petitioner's Motion for Consolidation of these two matters for a hearing of charges be granted. The charges in both Petitions allege that the Respondent engaged in misconduct, defined by Maryland Rule BVl(k) as an act or omission by an attorney, individually or in concert with any other person or persons which violates the Maryland Rules of Professional Conduct, as adopted by Rule 1230, whether or not the act or omission occurred in the course of an attorney-client relationship. The hearings on both Petitions for Disciplinary Action were held before the undersigned judge, and took place over the course of several days in April and May, 1996. Raymond Hein, Assistant Bar Counsel, represented the Petitioner, Attorney Grievance Commission of Maryland. Herschel D. Milliken, the Respondent, proceeded pro se. In support of its allegations, Petitioner's counsel entered nineteen exhibits into evidence.