Opinion ID: 2266107
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Analysis of the First Prong

Text: The evidence indisputably supports respondent's claim that he was suffering from alcoholism by November of 1991, and very likely as early as March of 1991. As noted above, however, the misappropriation was found to have occurred late the previous year and respondent had the burden of showing that he was impaired at that time. This respondent failed to do. The experts from both sides essentially agreed that respondent's ability to conduct his professional activities was impaired by alcoholism by March 1991, but with the possible exception of Dr. Wynne, none opined that such an impairment was present at an earlier time. The hearing committee and the Board did not credit some of the expert testimony because it depended on respondent's selfreporting of facts, reasoning that the facts supplied were of questionable reliability because they may have been influenced by respondent's self-interest. [9] Finally, although the lay witnesses called by respondent did testify regarding some professional lapses in his performance in 1990, the hearing committee gave little weight to that testimony, as it was permitted to do, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA BOARD OF PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY RULES Rule 11.2, Actions by Hearing Committee (1990) (BOARD RULES), because, during that period, respondent's lapses, apart from the misappropriation, were minimal. The Board agreed. We have no basis, on this record, for overturning these findings or the Board's ultimate conclusion that respondent failed to meet the first prong of the Kersey test; i.e., he failed to prove by clear and convincing evidence, that his ability to carry out his professional duties was impaired by alcoholism at the time he misappropriated his clients' funds. It follows therefore that the Kersey defense must fail.