Opinion ID: 2258485
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Reports and Recommendations of the Hearing Committee and the Board

Text: The Hearing Committee found that respondent had violated the two rules as alleged based on all of the conduct charged by Bar Counsel and recommended a thirty-day suspension with reinstatement conditioned on respondent's compliance with Bar Counsel's request for information and production of documents and proof of fitness. Neither Bar Counsel nor respondent filed exceptions to the Hearing Committee's report and recommendation. The Board affirmed the Hearing Committee's findings and conclusions that respondent violated D.C. Bar R. XI, § 2(b)(3) by failing to respond to orders of the Board and the Court and D.C. R. Prof. Conduct 8.4(d) in that he hampered Bar Counsel's investigation by failing to respond to Bar Counsel's questions and the subpoena duces tecum after being compelled by the Board to do so. The Board rejected the Hearing Committee's conclusion that respondent also violated D.C. R. Prof. Conduct 8.4(d) by failing to provide a substantive response to Bar Counsel's initial letter, having concluded that respondent's letter was sufficient to meet the requirements of a general denial to the allegations in the Auditor-Master's report. [3] The Board agreed with the Hearing Committee's recommendation of a thirty-day suspension with reinstatement conditioned on respondent's compliance with the subpoena duces tecum. However, the Board did not concur with the Hearing Committee's recommendation that a showing of fitness be a condition of reinstatement because that would be inconsistent with prior cases. Further, the Board declined to impose as a condition of reinstatement that respondent answer Bar Counsel's initial questions because of respondent's general denial and the overly broad questions, respondent's assertion of privilege with respect to some of the questions, and the expectation that his responses to the subpoena duces tecum would answer some of the questions. [4]