Opinion ID: 2558572
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Disqualification and Disciplinary Proceedings

Text: 18. Immediately after the Ferguson deposition, Michael Bruckheim, the attorney representing the District of Columbia, contacted Ms. Cooper to complain that Respondent's participation violated Rule 1.11 and that Ms. Cooper herself violated Rule 5.1(c) by allowing that participation. Mr. Bruckheim stated that if Ms. Cooper did not withdraw from representation, he would file a motion to disqualify. When Ms. Cooper refused to withdraw, the District filed a motion seeking to disqualify both Ms. Cooper and Respondent from representing G. Thomas. BX 8k. 19. In opposing the disqualification motion, Ms. Cooper and Respondent each filed affidavits asserting that Respondent had not played a substantive role while at OHR concerning the LOD. BX 8o. Respondent stated that she had not reviewed the draft LOD before it was issued. Both Ms. Cooper and Respondent acknowledged, however, that Respondent played some role in connection with the G. Thomas file. Id. Meanwhile, Ms. Cooper and the District sparred over whether the deposition of Bernard Ferguson should be stricken because of Respondent's participation. BX 8o; BX 8p. At no time in opposing the motion to disqualify did either Ms. Cooper or Respondent assert that Respondent was not acting as counsel to G. Thomas and therefore could not be disqualified. BX 8o. 20. In a Memorandum Opinion and Order filed June 29, 2004, U.S. District Court Judge Royce C. Lamberth granted the District's motion to disqualify counsel and struck the deposition of Bernard Ferguson because Respondent's participation tainted the proceedings. BX 8q. Judge Lamberth found that Respondent had a supervisory role while at OHR concerning the G. Thomas case and that Respondent had engaged in some communications at that time with G. Thomas about the OHR process: White's former employment at OHR and rapport with the plaintiff as a representative of OHR in her phone conversations with the plaintiff substantially relates to the issues presented in the instant case. Whether or not White satisfied her supervisory responsibilities at OHR and did in fact review Thomas' investigation of the plaintiff's claim prior to the issuance of the Letter of Determination, White did have a substantial responsibility to oversee Thomas's work products. Id. at 1232. 21. G. Thomas moved for reconsideration of the Court's order disqualifying her counsel. BX 8r. While that motion was pending, Ms. Cooper died. BX 8u. Respondent was working out of Ms. Cooper's office at the time of Ms. Cooper's death and took over some of Ms. Cooper's files. Tr. 3/30/06 at 927-28. After Ms. Cooper died, G. Thomas urged Judge Lamberth to reconsider his disqualification order with respect to Respondent because she and other associates of Ms. Cooper, had to determine whether they can assist Plaintiff in this matter. BX 8v. Judge Lamberth later denied the motion for reconsideration of his disqualification order, noting that Respondent cannot now assist [G. Thomas] in this matter. BX 8w.