Opinion ID: 2050973
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 11

Heading: Unadjudicated Acts of Misconduct Occurring Subsequent to Entry of the Court's Order of Suspension in Roxborough I [3]

Text: e. Roxborough/Bar Counsel, Bar Docket No. 342-97 44. Henry J. Brothers, Esquire, was retained to represent Industrial Bank of Washington (IBW) in connection with a construction loan to Rufus Stancil, Delores Stancil and Hasselrig Construction Company. Burrell Hasselrig was the company's representative. BX 28, 30. Petitioner was identified as legal counsel for the Stancils and Mr. Hasselrig. Id. 45. On July 18, 1997, Mr. Brothers received a fax from Willie Faye Hearring Garrett, Esquire, in which Ms. Garrett explained that Petitioner was on inactive status from the Maryland Bar. BX 28 at 2-3. Ms. Garrett also asked that Mr. Brothers deal with Petitioner as her paralegal, with her full confidence and authority. Id. at 3. 46. During a conference call on July 18, 1997, Mr. Stancil stated that he had not known until that day that Petitioner was not a licensed attorney. BX 28 at 2. During his reinstatement hearing, Petitioner testified that he had advised Mr. Stancil and Mr. Hasselrig that he no longer was practicing law and could act only as a consultant. Tr. I 146. He confirmed that he had started the matter as counsel. Id. Petitioner acknowledged that Mr. Brothers had thought Petitioner was acting as an attorney and that Petitioner does not believe that Mr. Brothers filed the ethical complaint to secure leverage in the commercial transaction. Id. 156-57. Petitioner further testified that everyone at IBW knew he was suspended from the practice of law. Id. 148-49. 47. Bar Counsel had not petitioned this matter. f. Roxborough/Johnson, Bar Docket No. 386-98 48. Bobby B. Stafford, Esquire, filed a complaint with Bar Counsel on behalf of his client, Joyce Johnson, stating that his client was the personal representative of the Estate of Viola Morris Gunthrop in the Probate Division of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, No. 1388-84 (the Gunthrop Estate). BX 36 at 1. 49. Ms. Johnson settled a real-estate matter with Petitioner's former law firm, Roxborough & Tillerson, which was required to hold $5,500 in escrow. Id. Although a portion of the funds was returned through a garnishment, at the time of the hearing approximately $4,500 remained outstanding. Id. 50. Petitioner is unsure whether his former law firm owes the Gunthrop Estate any further funds. BX 37. He promised to make the Gunthrop Estate whole upon a showing that additional amounts are owed. Id. 51. Petitioner testified that the file has been removed from his old office, and that he has been unsuccessful in his attempts to locate it. Tr. II 112.