Opinion ID: 2335436
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Respondent's Failure to Answer/ Panel Chair Deems Admitted the Allegations and Charges in the Petition

Text: The Petition having been served on August 12, 2007, Rule 9(d) (2) of the Delaware Lawyers' Rules of Disciplinary Procedure (Procedural Rules) required an answer to be filed within 20 days or by September 4, 2007. Respondent failed to file an answer or request an extension. On September 6, 2007, the ODC requested the Panel Chair of the board of Professional Responsibility to find that the allegations and charges in the Petition be deemed admitted pursuant to Procedural Rule 9(d)(2). That Procedural Rule provides in pertinent part that In the event the respondent fails to serve an answer within the prescribed time, all of the allegations and charges in the petition shall be deemed admitted, such that the sole remaining issue to be determined by the board shall be the appropriate disciplinary sanction. Respondent did not respond to this request. On September 19, 2007, the Panel Chair advised the parties that the allegations and charges in the Petition would be deemed admitted pursuant to Procedural Rule 9(d)(2) with the appropriate disciplinary sanction the sole remaining issue to be determined at the hearing scheduled for September 26, 2007.