Opinion ID: 2351753
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Maryland Discipline

Text: A Judge of the Circuit Court for Prince George's County, Maryland, found that Respondent engaged in conduct involving misrepresentation in violation of Maryland Rule of Professional Conduct 8.4(c), engaged in conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice in violation of Rule 8.4(d), failed to exercise the diligence and promptness in representing his client required by Rule 1.3, failed to promptly comply with reasonable requests for information as required by Rule 1.4(a), and falsely stated material facts to a tribunal in violation of Rule 3.3(a). The violations arose from Respondent's representation of two attorneys with whom he shared office space in litigation against their former law partners. Respondent filed a complaint in March 1991, but failed to file timely responses to discovery requests or to seek an extension of time. Respondent also failed to respond to a motion for sanctions. The court dismissed the complaint as a result. Respondent filed a motion to alter or amend the judgment of dismissal, with an affidavit asserting that discovery responses were completed by August 28 or 29, 1991. The case was reinstated based on Respondent's motion, but opposing counsel filed a motion to vacate the reinstatement because opposing counsel was never served with the motion to alter or amend. More than five months later, Respondent answered the motion to vacate, stating that the discovery responses had been forwarded on November 1, 1991. Opposing counsel renewed his motion for immediate sanctions, asserting that he had never received the Respondent's answer to the first motion for immediate sanctions, the affidavit accompanying the motion, the motion to alter or amend judgment, or any discovery responses. After an evidentiary hearing in which Respondent participated, the Circuit Court for Prince George's County found that Respondent had misrepresented on three certificates of service that he had served opposing counsel, and misrepresented in the affidavit filed with the motion to alter or amend judgment that he had served the discovery responses. The Court found that the misrepresentations also constituted conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice, and that Respondent failed to comply with the requirements of promptness in representing his client and in providing information to others that is required by Rules 1.3 and 1.4(a). Before the Court of Appeals of Maryland, Respondent consented to a 60-day suspension. He was suspended in Maryland effective December 3, 1994, and was reinstated on February 7, 1995.