Opinion ID: 1971625
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: inconsistent disposition

Text: Mr. Cloud argues that disbarment for what he did in this case would be inconsistent with sanctions imposed in similar cases. This court, however, has long recognized a presumption that in virtually all cases of misappropriation, disbarment will be the only appropriate sanction unless it appears that the misconduct resulted from nothing more than simple negligence. In re Addams, 579 A.2d at 191. Lesser sanctions are appropriate only in extraordinary circumstances, id., which we have very narrowly defined. See, e.g., In re Kersey, 520 A.2d at 326. While Mr. Cloud testified that he suffered from medical and financial problems during the time he was supposed to be repaying Kemper and offered substantial testimony from character witnesses, there is no case law in this jurisdiction that would justify a more lenient sanction for these reasons; indeed, our case law says just the opposite. See, e.g., In re Pierson, 690 A.2d 941, 948-951 (D.C.1997) (evidence of financial pressures, commendable pro bono activities, and acceptance of responsibility did not warrant a reduction in sanction for intentional misappropriation). Mr. Cloud cites In re Choroszej, supra note 5, for the proposition that a failure to repay entrusted funds should not result in automatic disbarment. See Choroszej, 624 A.2d at 436-437. In Choroszej, however, we refrained from disbarring the attorney because his failure to pay a physician from funds he held in trust was deemed negligent and not reckless or dishonest. Id. at 435-436. Further, when contacted about the disputed funds by his client, the attorney tried to solve the problem by initiating contact with the physician's office to clear up the misunderstanding because he honestly, but mistakenly, believed the physician had already been paid. Id. at 436. In this case, unlike Choroszej, Mr. Cloud did not attempt to clear the matter up with Kemper, but tried to put the blame on Kemper when he sought to justify his failure to repay. Moreover, the attorney in Choroszej was never sued to compel payment of any funds that were due and owing. This court has historically held that disbarment is warranted in cases of reckless misappropriation because such conduct undermines the public's faith that attorneys will fulfill their duties as fiduciaries in handling funds entrusted to them. . . . In re Pierson, 690 A.2d at 948; see also In re Addams, 579 A.2d at 198-199. Mr. Cloud has offered no acceptable reason why the sanction in this case should be any different.