May 8, 2008
Kelly Ralston Dennis, Chung & Press PC, #200 6718
Whittier Avenue, McLean, VA 22101
VSB Docket No. 06-051-3305
On March 21, 2008, the Virginia State Bar
Disciplinary Board suspended Kelly Ralston Dennis’s
license to practice law for sixty days, effective May
1, 2008. Mr. Dennis violated rules of professional
conduct that govern competence, scope of
representation, diligence, communication, fees,
safekeeping of property, and declining or terminating
representation. Mr. Dennis did not deposit a
client’s funds into a trust account as required under
the rules. He also did not inform the client about
rescheduled trial dates. As a result, the client twice
was arrested and incarcerated on capias warrants. This
was an agreed disposition of misconduct charges
against Mr. Dennis.
May 8, 2008
Bernadette Wilbon O’Neal, 500 North Washington
Street, Alexandria, VA 22314
VSB Docket No.: 05-042-2627
On March 21, 2008, the Virginia State Bar
Disciplinary Board suspended Bernadette Wilbon
O’Neal’s license to practice law for thirty days,
effective May 1, 2008, for violating rules of
professional conduct that govern competence,
diligence, adequate communication with her client, and
candor toward the tribunal. The charges involved Ms.
O’Neal’s defense of a client facing felony charges.
This was an agreed disposition of misconduct charges.
April 7, 2008
Patrick Allen Robbins
23365 Front Street, Post Office Box 757, Accomack, VA 23301
VSB Docket No. 07-021-064899
On March 20, 2008, the Second District Committee, Section I, imposed a public admonition on
Patrick Allen Robbins for violating professional rules that govern competence and diligence. The Court of Appeals of Virginia dismissed a criminal appeal handled by Mr. Robbins because of his failure to timely file the trial transcript. At the time, Mr. Robbins did not know about the statutory remedy for a delayed appeal available to his client under Virginia Code Section 19.2-321.1. This is an agreed disposition of misconduct charges against Mr. Robbins.
April 7, 2008
Danny Shelton Shipley
RBC Centura Building, Suite 1410, 555 East Main Street, Norfolk, VA 23510
VSB Docket No. 07-021-1348
On March 20, 2008, the Second District Committee, Section I, imposed a public reprimand on
Danny Shelton Shipley, for violating professional rules that govern competence, diligence, and communication. Mr. Shipley failed to file a notice of appeal in two criminal cases at the Supreme Court of Virginia, and failed to timely file a petition for appeal in a third case, resulting in dismissals of the appeals. He obtained delayed appeals in two of the cases, but his staff inadvertently closed the file in the third case, where it remained until the bar informed him about the matter. This is an agreed disposition of misconduct charges against Mr. Shipley.
April 7, 2008
LeRon William Gilchrist
Sams & Scott, P.C., Suite 203, 500 Plume Street, Norfolk, VA 23510
VSB Docket No. 07-021-2272
07-021-064908
On March 20, 2008, the Second District Committee, Section I, imposed a public admonition on
LeRon William Gilchrist for violating professional rules that govern competence, diligence, and communication. The Court of Appeals of Virginia dismissed two criminal appeals handled by Mr. Gilchrist because of his failure to timely file trial transcripts. At the time, Mr. Gilchrist did not know about the statutory remedy for a delayed appeal available to his clients under Virginia Code Section 19.2-321.1. This is an agreed disposition of misconduct charges against Mr. Gilchrist.
April 3, 2008
John B. Mann, Suite 200, 2201 Libbie Avenue, Richmond, VA 23230
VSB Docket No.: 07-033-070688; 07-033-1882; 07-033-1418
On March 18, 2008, the Third District Committee, Section III, imposed a public admonition with terms on
John B. Mann. Mr. Mann violated the professional rule that governs diligence and promptness for his failure to properly perfect appeals in three criminal cases.
March 21, 2008
Ernest Kenneth Wall, E. Kenneth Wall, P.C., Suite 207, 4020 University Drive, Fairfax, VA 22030
VSB Docket Nos. 03-051-0361, 04-051-0859, and 05-051-3855
Fairfax County Circuit Court Case No. 2006-10928
On March 19, 2008, a three-judge panel of the Fairfax County Circuit Court imposed a public admonition with terms on
Ernest Kenneth Wall. Mr. Wall violated the Rule of Professional Conduct that forbids misleading information in public communications concerning a lawyer's services. Mr. Wall must make revisions to solicitation letters, contracts, and website contents that he uses in his business, which provides tax services but not legal services. This was an agreed disposition of misconduct charges against Mr. Wall.
view Wall order (pdf posted 04/25/2008)*
March 21, 2008
Robert Henry Smallenberg, 1521 West Main Street, Richmond, Virginia 23220-4630.
VSB Docket No. 06-032-4208
On March 14, 2008, the Virginia State Bar's Third District Committee, Section II, imposed a public reprimand on
Robert Henry Smallenberg for violating Rules of Professional Conduct that govern diligence and communication. Mr. Smallenberg's client had to obtain new counsel the day before her criminal trial because Mr. Smallenberg failed to communicate with her. This was an agreed disposition of misconduct charges against Mr. Smallenberg.
March 17, 2008
Robert W. Haas, 6718 Whittier Avenue, Suite 200, McLean, VA 22101
VSB Docket No.: 06-051-1284
On March 10, 2008, a three-judge court in the City of Fairfax Circuit imposed a public reprimand on
Robert W. Haas for violating the Rules of Professional Conduct that govern diligence, fairness to opposing counsel, truthfulness in statements to others, and safekeeping property. This was an agreed disposition of misconduct charges against Mr. Haas.
March 3, 2008 *
Charles Matthew Rust-Tierney, c/o Jonathan Shapiro, Esquire, Greenspun, Shapiro, Davis & Leary, P.C., 2nd Floor, 3955 Chain Bridge Road, Fairfax, Virginia 22030
VSB Docket No. 08-000-073609
On February 28, 2008, the Virginia State Bar Disciplinary Board summarily suspended
Charles Matthew Rust-Tierney's license to practice law based on a felony charge of receipt of child pornography. Mr. Rust-Tierney pleaded guilty to the charge in the U.S. District Court Eastern-District of Virginia in Alexandria. The board ordered him to appear on March 28, 2008, to show cause why his license should not be further suspended or revoked.
*On March 19, 2008, the Virginia State Bar Disciplinary Board continued the case until April 25, 2008.
February 29, 2008
VSB Docket No: 08-033-072607
Michael D. Hancock, Suite 112, 6800 Paragon Place, Richmond VA 23230-1658.
On February 29, 2008, the Virginia State Bar Disciplinary Board revoked
Michael David Hancock's license to practice law. Mr. Hancock admitted that he withdrew funds from his escrow account that belonged to three of his clients, that he did so without authority, and that he used the funds for his own business expenses. His law practice was placed in a receivership by the Henrico County Circuit Court. Mr. Hancock consented to the revocation.
view Hancock consent to revocation (pdf posted 04/08/08)*
February 27, 2008
Robert Ray Stone, Jr., P.O. Box 100411, Arlington, VA 22210
VSB Docket Nos. 05-041-4139 and 07-041-1180
On February 22, 2008, the Virginia State Bar Disciplinary Board revoked
Robert Ray Stone Jr.’s license to practice law for violating Rules of Professional Conduct that govern diligence, conflict of interest, declining representation when that representation will result in a violation of the disciplinary rules, handling of client funds, and the unauthorized practice of law. Mr. Stone’s license has been administratively suspended since November 1989. He has been ineligible to practice law since that time, but he continued to represent clients in Virginia.
view Stone order (pdf posted 04/25/2008)*
February 26, 2008
Thomas William Goodman Jr., 113 Caroline Avenue, P.O. Box 775, Pikeville, KY 41502
VSB Docket No. 07-102-1553
On February 19, 2008, the Virginia State Bar's Tenth District Committee, Section II, issued a public reprimand to Thomas William Goodman Jr. Mr. Goodman violated a Rule of Professional Conduct that governs the safekeeping of property when he failed to deposit a client's retainer fee in a trust account until it was earned. This was an agreed disposition of misconduct charges against Mr. Goodman.
view Goodman order (pdf posted 02/29/08)*
February 26, 2008
Marc James Small, 2700 Anglewood Drive, Chester, VA 23831
VSB Docket Nos. 06-080-2725 and 07-080-0656
On February 22, 2008, the Virginia State Bar Disciplinary Board revoked
Marc James Small’s license to practice law. Mr. Small consented to the revocation and admitted that he had failed to explain his fee to a client and failed to protect another client’s interests upon termination of a representation.
view Small order (pdf posted 02/29/08)*
February 26, 2008
Alana Sherrise Powers, Sherrise Powers, P.L.C., Dominion Tower, Suite 435, 999 Waterside Drive, Norfolk, VA 23510
VSB Docket No. 07-022-2782
On February 22, 2008, the Virginia State Bar Second District Committee, Section II, imposed an admonition on
Alana Sherrise Powers for violating the professional rule that governs diligence in handling an appeal of a criminal conviction.
view Powers determination (pdf posted 04/08/08)*
February 22, 2008
Colin Charles Connelly, Connelly & Associates, P.C., P.O. Box 1512, Chesterfield, VA 23832
VSB Docket Nos. 05-031-2944, 06-031-0692, 06-031-0910, 06-031-2219, 06-031-2237, 06-031-4249, 07-031-0147, 07-031-1109, 07-031-1357, 07-031-1563, 8-031-072410
On February 22, 2008, the Virginia State Bar Disciplinary Board revoked Colin Charles Connelly’s license to practice law. Eleven misconduct cases were pending against Mr. Connelly. They included charges that he failed to keep adequate trust account records, failed to adequately account for client funds, and failed to disclose conflicts of interest to clients. Mr. Connelly consented to the revocation and acknowledged that the material facts in each case were true.
view Connelly order (PDF posted 02/25/2008)*
February 21, 2008
Vincent Francis Bonzagni, The Bonzagni Law Firm, 147 Mountain Top Road, Front Royal, VA 22630-6013
VSB Docket No. 08-070-073034, 08-070-072215 and 08-070-071300
On February 20, 2008, the Virginia State Bar Disciplinary Board suspended Vincent Francis Bonzagni's license administratively to practice law for failure to comply with a subpoena duces tecum.
February 21, 2008
Joseph Taylor Brown, 108 Charlotte Street, Fredericksburg, VA 22401
VSB Docket Nos. 05-060-2406, 05-060-2407, 05-060-2408
On February 19, 2008 a three-judge Caroline County Circuit Court imposed a public reprimand with terms on Joseph Taylor Brown for violating professional rules that govern competence, diligence, and communication. This was an agreed disposition of misconduct charges against Mr. Brown.
February 15, 2008
David Michael Gammino, 328 South Cherry Street, Richmond, VA 23220
VSB Docket Nos 06-032-0616, 06-032-1114, 07-032-0805
On February 5, 2008, the Virginia State Bar Third District Committee publicly reprimanded
David Michael Gammino for misconduct in two appeals of criminal convictions and a motion to withdraw a guilty plea. Mr. Gammino violated professional rules that govern diligence and communication with a client. This was an agreed disposition of misconduct charges against Mr. Gammino.
view Gammino order (PDF posted 02/21/08)*
February 5, 2008 *
Uzair Mansoor Siddiqui, 12944 Center Entrance Court, Manassas, Virginia 20109
VSB Docket No. 08-052-072646
On February 5, 2008, the Virginia State Bar Disciplinary Board administratively suspended the law license of Uzair Mansoor Siddiqui for failure to comply with a subpoena duces tecum.
*On February 11, 2008, Mr. Siddiqui complied with subpoena duces tecum and the suspension was lifted.
February 1, 2008
Theodore Scott Silva Jr., Holland & Knight, LLP, Suite 400, 2100 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20034-3202
VSB Docket No. 08-000-073253
On January 23, 2008, the Virginia State Bar Disciplinary Board issued a public reprimand with terms to Theodore Scott Silva Jr., who pled guilty in December 2002 in the Arlington County Circuit Court to a charge of possession of cocaine. The court dismissed the criminal charge after Mr. Silva complied with its conditions. Mr. Silva also currently faces terms imposed by a District of Columbia disciplinary tribunal in another matter. The Virginia board ordered him to comply with those terms. This is an agreed disposition of disciplinary charges against Mr. Silva, who is an associate member of the Virginia State Bar.
view Silva order (pdf posted 02/07/2008)*
January 30, 2008 *
Gloria Salazar Calonge, Suite C8-S, 3705 South George Mason Drive, Falls Church, Virginia 22041
VSB Docket No. 08-000-073258
On January 24, 2008, the Virginia State Bar Disciplinary Board summarily suspended Gloria Salazar Calonge 's license to practice law, based on a felony charge of misprision, or concealing knowledge of a felony perpetrated by another. Ms. Calonge pled guilty to the charge in the U.S. District Court-Eastern District of Virginia in Alexandria. The board ordered Ms. Calonge to appear on February 22, 2008, to show cause why her license should not be further suspended or revoked.
*On February 22, 2008, the Virginia State Bar Disciplinary Board suspended Ms. Calonge's license to practice law for two years.
view Calonge order (pdf posted 04/25/2008)*
January 30, 2008 *
Leslie Wayne Lickstein, 4126 Leonard Drive, Fairfax, Virginia 22030-5118
VSB Docket No. 08-000-073284
On January 24, 2008, the Virginia State Bar Disciplinary Board summarily suspended Leslie Wayne Lickstein ' s license to practice law, based on a felony charge of conspiracy to commit bank fraud. Mr. Lickstein pled guilty to the charge in the U.S. District Court Eastern-District of Virginia in Alexandria. The board ordered Mr. Lickstein to appear on February 22, 2008, to show cause why his license should not be further suspended or revoked.
*On February 22, 2008, the Virginia State Bar Disciplinary Board revoked Mr. Lickstein's license to practice law.
view Lickstein order (pdf posted 04/25/2008)*
January 25, 2008
George Anthony Yancey, Suite 202, 801 Boush Street, Norfolk, VA 23510
VSB Docket No. 07-022-0217
On January 17, 2008, Virginia State Bar Second District Committee, Section II, imposed an admonition with terms on George Anthony Yancey for violations of professional rules that govern diligence and termination of representation in a habeas case. Under the terms of the discipline, he must pay to replace trial transcripts that he lost.
January 22, 2008 *
Peter Campbell Sackett, 714 Court Street, Lynchburg, VA 24504
VSB Docket No. 08-090-072950
On January 22, 2008, the Virginia State Bar Disciplinary Board suspended Peter Campbell Sackett's license administratively to practice law for failure to comply with a subpoena duces tecum.
*On January 24, 2008, Mr. Sackett complied with the subpoena duces tecum and the suspension was lifted.
January 11, 2008
Kenneth Paul Mergenthal, 404 Princess Anne Street, Fredericksburg, VA 22401
VSB Docket No. 06-060-0300
On December 11, 2007, the Virginia State Bar Sixth District Committee issued a public reprimand with terms to Kenneth Paul Mergenthal. While representing a client in an appeal of a criminal case, Mr. Mergenthal violated disciplinary rules that govern diligence and communication. He also failed to respond to a bar bar complaint and a subpoena for records in the case. Under the terms of the reprimand, Mr. Mergenthal must remove his name from the court-appointed criminal defense list, withdraw from any current court appointments, and not accept another court appointment until 2011. This was an agreed disposition of misconduct charges against Mr. Mergenthal.
view Merganthal order (pdf posted 01/14/08)*
January 7, 2008 *
Marshall L. Cohen, Suite 103, 1412 Royal Palm Square Boulevard, Fort Myers, FL 33919
VSB Docket No. 08-000-073300
On December 27, 2007, the Virginia State Bar Disciplinary Board summarily suspended Marshall L. Cohen’s license to practice law. The suspension was based on a decision by the Supreme Court of Florida on November 15, 2007, to suspend Mr. Cohen’s license to practice law in that state for ninety days. The board ordered Mr. Cohen to appear on January 25, 2008, to show cause why a ninety-day suspension should not be imposed in Virginia.
*On January 25, 2008, the Virginia State Bar Disciplinary Board suspended Mr. Cohen's license for 90 days, the same discipline imposed by the Supreme Court of California.
view Cohen opinion (pdf posted 04/08/08)*
January 7, 2008 *
Steven Jeffrey Riggs, 1146 Civil Center Drive West, Santa Ana, CA 92703
VSB Docket No. 08-000-073269
On December 27, 2007, the Virginia State Bar Disciplinary Board summarily suspended Steven Jeffrey Riggs’s license to practice law. The suspension was based on a decision by the Supreme Court of California on April 13, 2007, to disbar Mr. Riggs in that state. The board ordered Mr. Riggs to appear on January 25, 2008, to show cause why his license should not be revoked in Virginia.
view Riggs order (PDF posted 02/21/08)*
*On January 25, 2008, the Virginia State Bar Disciplinary Board revoked Mr. Rigg's license, the same discipline imposed by the Supreme Court of California.
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