Disciplinary Actions Taken by the
Virginia State Bar

January 2003–June 30, 2003
archives

 

 

June 30, 2003*

Douglas Downs Wilson, Suite 200, 4502 Starkey Road, Roanoke, Virginia 24014

VSB Docket No. 03-000-1686

On June 27, 2003, the Disciplinary Board recommended that the Supreme Court of Virginia grant Douglas Downes Wilson's petition for reinstatement of his license to practice law. The recommendation will be filed with the court, which will take final action on Mr. Wilson's petition.

go to opinion (posted 7/25/03)

*On November 1, 2004, the Virginia Supreme Court reinstated Mr. Wilson’s license to practice law.

 

June 30, 2003*

On June 27, 2003, the Virginia State Bar Disciplinary Board revoked Raymond William Konan's license to practice law. While representing clients in various civil suits, Mr. Konan filed multiple frivolous pleadings, handled matters incompetently, and made misrepresentations to courts.

go to opinion (posted 7/11/03)

 

June 27, 2003*

June 27, 2003*

Luther Cornelius Edmonds, 1225 Boissevain Avenue, Norfolk, Virginia 23507

On June 27, 2003, the Virginia State Bar Disciplinary Board revoked Luther Cornelius Edmonds' law license effective immediately. The underlying misconduct was Mr. Edmonds' felony convictions for unlawful wounding and wearing a mask stemming from a physical attack on lawyer and former state delegate William P. Robinson, Jr.

* On August 21, 2003, Mr. Edmonds filed an appeal to the Virginia Supreme Court.

go to opinion (posted 7/16/03)

On November 19, 2003, the Virginia Supreme Court dismissed the appeal.

 

June 26, 2003

June 24, 2003

Charles James Swedish, Sloan and Swedish, 107 Pleasant Street, N.W., Vienna, Virginia 22180-4435

VSB Docket Nos. 01-051-0666, 01-051-1621, 02-051-0153 and 02-051-2255

On June 17, 2003, a subcommittee of the Virginia State Bar Fifth District Committee imposed a public reprimand with terms on Charles James Swedish. This was an agreed disposition of misconduct charges in a divorce matter and three criminal matters. The subcommittee found a pattern of neglect, failure to communicate, failure to return a client file, failure to provide an accounting, and failure to place an advance payment of fees in his trust account.

go to opinion (posted 6/24/03)

 

June 23, 2003

Timothy Scott Renick, 2111 Pocahontas Trail, Quinton, VA 23141-0070

VSB Docket Nos. 02-060-2481 and 02-060-3694

On June 17, 2003 the Virginia State Bar Sixth District Committee issued a public reprimand to Timothy Scott Renick. This was an agreed disposition of misconduct charges in two cases. In a bankruptcy matter, the committee found that Mr. Renick violated disciplinary rules pertaining to lack of diligence, failure to communicate, receiving an unreasonable fee, and engaging in professional conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation. In the second case, the committee found that Mr. Renick violated disciplinary rules pertaining to lack of competence and diligence in the administration of two estates.

go to opinion (posted 6/24/03)

 

June 19, 2003* ** ***

 

June 19, 2003* ** ***

June 19, 2003

On June 18, 2003, in an agreed disposition, the Virginia State Bar Disciplinary Board issued a public reprimand with terms to David Redden. Mr. Redden overdrew his attorney trust account on two occasions. His bank paid both of the overdrafts, and there was no loss of client funds. The error resulted from his failure to adequately reconcile the account. In the event that Mr. Redden does not comply with the remedial terms imposed by the board, his license will be suspended for one year.

go to opinion (posted 6/20/03)

 

June 17, 2003

Thomas Hunt Roberts, 105 South First Street, Richmond, VA 23219

VSB Docket No. 99-032-2070

On June 13, 2003, the Virginia State Bar Third District Committee, Section II imposed a dismissal with terms on Thomas Hunt Roberts. The committee found that Mr. Roberts facilitated a loan to his litigation client through a corporation in which Mr. Roberts was the only officer as well as either the only stockholder or the majority stockholder. Roberts maintained that the corporation was acting as an agent for the true lender.

go to opinion (posted 6/23/03)

 

June 11, 2003

Beverly McLean Murray, 2006 Wakefield Street, P.O. Box 1938, Petersburg, VA 23805

VSB Docket No. 03-031-3340

On June 11, 2003, following a show cause hearing, the Virginia State Bar Third District Committee, Section I, publicly reprimanded Beverly McLean Murray for failing to comply with a term imposed in connection with a private reprimand. In February 2003, the district committee privately reprimanded Ms. Murray after she admitted that she failed to communicate with a client and to represent the client in a competent and diligent manner. The term imposed required Ms. Murray to refund $600 the client had paid her. Ms. Murray failed to refund her fee in a timely manner. Therefore, the district committee issued a public reprimand, the alternate sanction provided in the agreed disposition of the underlying disciplinary matter.

go to opinion (posted 6/24/03)

June 9, 2003

Jeffrey Frederick Bradley, 510 East Market Street, Harrisonburg, VA 22802

VSB Docket No. 02-070-3650


On May 27, 2003, the Virginia State Bar Seventh District Committee issued a public reprimand with terms to Jeffrey Frederick Bradley for misconduct in handling a client's insurance claim. The committee found that Mr. Bradley did not handle the matter diligently, did not return most of his client's telephone calls, and did not keep her informed about the status of the matter. In addition, Mr. Bradley lost or misplaced the file. When the client requested her file, Mr. Bradley could not return it and did not tell her it was lost.

go to opinion (posted 6/10/03)

 

June 5, 2003

Joseph Graham Painter, Jr., P.O. Drawer A, Blacksburg, Virginia 24063-1015

VSB Docket No. 01-101-2912

A three-judge panel of the Circuit Court for the County of Montgomery suspended Joseph Graham Painter, Jr.'s, license to practice law for twelve months, effective June 16, 2003. The parties stipulated Mr. Painter violated the Rules of Professional conduct by setting several fires in the area behind his home. Mr. Painter had previously pled guilty and no contest to several misdemeanor charges related to the fires.

 

June 4, 2003*

Gregory Lane Sandler, 413 West York Street, Norfolk, Virginia 23510

VSB Docket No. 02-021-2478

On May 28, 2003, the Virginia State Bar Second District Committee, Section I issued a public reprimand to Gregory Lane Sandler. The panel found that Mr. Sandler did not communicate with his personal injury client for more than two months after the client wrote to complain about his handling of the case and his failure to substantively communicate with her.

go to opinion (posted 6/4/03)

 

June 2, 2003

Carl Randall Stone, 1011 East Main Street, Suite 300, Richmond, VA 23219

VSB Docket #03-060-1495

On May 13, 2003, the Virginia State Bar Sixth District Committee imposed a public reprimand on Carl Randall Stone. The committee found that Mr. Stone had not complied with the terms of a June 3, 2002, order of the Sixth District Subcommittee. The 2002 order sanctioned Mr. Stone for failing to handle a workers compensation case competently and promptly and for not zealously representing his client.

go to opinion (posted 6/3/03)

 

May 30, 2003

JAMES CLIFFORD REEVES, III, 20334 Timberlake Road, Suite1, P.O. Box 1201, Lynchburg, Virginia 24505-1201

VSB Docket No. 03-090-0414

On May 29, 2003, the Virginia State Bar Ninth District Committee issued a public reprimand to James Clifford Reeves, III for failing to adequately communicate with a North Carolina client. By agreed disposition, the committee found that for a number of months Mr. Reeves failed to adequately communicate with the client regarding the litigation of her interests in her former marital home in Virginia.

go to opinion (posted 5/30/03)

 

May 22, 2003

Khalil Wali Latif, 110 North Main Street, P. O. Box 593, Farmville, VA 23901

VSB Docket No. 02-031-3489

On May 21, 2003, the Virginia State Bar Disciplinary Board issued, by agreement, a public reprimand to Khalil Wali Latif for failing to perfect an appeal of a criminal matter to the Virginia Court of Appeals, failing to advise his client that the appeal had been dismissed and failing to communicate with his client.

go to opinion (posted 5/28/03)

VSB Docket Nos. 03-000-0376, 02-031-2876, 02-031-3117, 02-031-3344, 02-031-3345, 03-031-0175, 03-031-0895 and 03-031-0920

On May 21, 2003, the Virginia State Bar Disciplinary Board imposed, by agreement, in eight disciplinary matters, a four-month suspension with terms upon Khalil Wali Latif. The terms are effective immediately. The suspension will take effect on September 1, 2003.

VSB Docket No. 03-000-0376 arose from a federal district court holding Mr. Latif in civil and criminal contempt for failing to take court ordered action. Mr. Latif repeatedly failed to appear in bankruptcy court when ordered to do so, did not pay fines the bankruptcy court imposed and neglected to file a written response to the resulting contempt allegations. The federal district court initially barred Mr. Latif from practicing law in any federal court in the Western District of Virginia for a period of eight months but, after referring the matter to the bar, stayed the suspension. The Disciplinary Board found that Mr. Latif's failure to comply with some of the bankruptcy court orders resulted from his failure to supervise his secretary, who did not disclose correspondence from the court and the bar to Mr. Latif. However, the Disciplinary Board did find that Mr. Latif knowingly disobeyed the federal district court's order requiring him to submit a written response to the contempt allegations.

In the seven other matters, by failing to maintain the requisite trust account records and not properly supervising his secretary, Mr. Latif enabled her to engage in conduct incompatible with his professional obligations as a lawyer. Over a period of several months, the bar attempted to notify Mr. Latif of numerous trust account overdrafts, but his secretary apparently diverted the overdraft notices and forged Mr. Latif's name to a letter to the bar attempting to explain the overdrafts. An investigation commissioned by Mr. Latif revealed that his secretary had embezzled funds.

In imposing a four month suspension with terms, the board considered Mr. Latif's prior disciplinary record and the fact that his misconduct did not result in any client losses. The terms require Mr. Latif, for a two-year period beginning immediately, to consult with a practice mentor about law office management, employ a part-time bookkeeper and engage a certified public accountant to audit his trust account records quarterly. The terms also bar Mr. Latif from accepting any new clients or client matters between May 21 and September 1, 2003, when the four-month suspension takes effect.

go to opinion (posted 5/28/03)

 

May 21, 2003

Clayman Ricardo Norfleet,1031 Andrews Road, NW, Roanoke, Virginia 24012

VSB Docket Nos. 03-080-0802, 03-080-1274, 03-080-1426, 03-080-1576, 03-080-1793 03-080-1794, 03-080-1925, 03-080-2662, 03-080-3546

On May 21, 2003, the Virginia State Bar Disciplinary Board suspended Clayman Ricardo Norfleet's license to practice law for failure to respond to bar subpoena duces tecum served on March 28, 2003.

 

May 21, 2003

Khalil Wali Latif, 110 North Main Street, P.O. Box 593, Farmville, VA 23901

VSB Docket No. 02-031-0343

On May 21, 2003, pursuant to an agreed disposition, the Virginia State Bar Third District Committee, Section I publicly reprimanded Khalil Wali Latif. He accepted a $200 fee for filing a bankruptcy petition, cashed the client's check rather than depositing it in his trust account, then failed to file the petition.

go to opinion (posted 5/22/093)

 

May 19, 2003

Robert Sidney Ricks, 1 Crawford Parkway, Suite 102, Post Office Box 1295, Portsmouth, Virginia 23705-1295

VSB Docket Nos. 02-010-0908, 02-010-1014, 02-010-1071, 02-010-1137, 02-010-1431,02-010-1432, 02-010-1790, 02-010-3319, 02-010-3427, 02-010-3990, 02-010-2261, 02-010-2650, 02-010-3329, 02-010-3628, 03-010-0210

On May 16, 2003, the Virginia State Bar Disciplinary Board revoked Robert Sidney Ricks's license to practice law in Virginia. The board considered fifteen complaints of misconduct, many of which involved embezzlement of client funds by Mr. Ricks's former secretary, who he continued to employ after he discovered she was stealing, thereby allowing the defalcations to continue. The board also found that Mr. Ricks was indifferent to the plight of clients dunned by creditors who would have been paid were it not for the embezzlements. Other complaints involved the dismissal of personal injury cases that Mr. Ricks failed to pursue diligently, as well as his failure to perform work that he was paid to do and to issue refunds when he did not do the work.

go to opinion (posted 6/24/03)

 

May 19, 2003

Sang Kuen Park, Moon, Park & Associates, 7617 Little River Turnpike, Suite 930, Annandale, VA 22003

VSB Docket No. 00-052-0251

On May 15, 2003, the Virginia State Bar Disciplinary Board suspended Sang Kuen Park's license to practice law for six months. The board found that Mr. Park performed incompetently and made misrepresentations regarding the drafting and execution of a will and the filing of an immigration petition.

go to opinion (posted 6/2/03)

 

May 19, 2003

Helena Daphne Mizrahi, P. O. Box 7033, Alexandria, Virginia 22307

VSB Docket No. 00-042-1528

On May 16, 2003, the Virginia State Bar Disciplinary Board issued a public reprimand to Helena Daphne Mizrahi. The board found that Ms. Mizrahi engaged in misleading and deceptive conduct in the course of her representation in a domestic relations matter.

go to opinion (posted 6/2/03)

 

May 13, 2003

Patricia Maria Wright, 106 Truxton Avenue, Portsmouth, Virginia 23701

VSB Docket No. 03-000-2680

On May 13, 2003, the Virginia State Bar Disciplinary Board suspended Patricia Maria Wright's license to practice law after she failed to comply with a board order.

May 12, 2003

Sang Kuen Park, Moon, Park & Associates, 7617 Little River Turnpike, Suite 930, Annandale, VA 22003

VSB Docket Nos. 00-052-1892 and 00-052-1959

On May 8, 2003, the Virginia State Bar Disciplinary Board issued a public reprimand to Sang Kuen Park. This was an agreed disposition of disciplinary charges against Mr. Park. Mr. Park was hired to assist a married couple in obtaining work visas and permanent resident status. He did not file the correct filing fee for the work visas, delaying the issuance of the visas, and then misrepresented the reason for the delay. He also did not file the applications for permanent resident status but for 18 months assured his clients that he had done so. Mr. Park failed to file an updated labor certification with his clients' petitions for extension of their visas Mr. Park's clients sued him for malpractice and won a judgment against him for $35,000.00, which he paid.

go to opinion (posted 5/16/03)

May 1, 2003

William Madison McClenny, Jr., P.O. Box 1660, Louisa, VA 23093-1660

VSB Docket No. 02-070-1765

On April 28, 2003, the Seventh District Subcommittee of the Virginia State Bar issued a public reprimand with terms to William Madison McClenny, Jr.. Mr. McClenny was hired to represent a defendant in several traffic matters. He told the client that the matters were continued and that he did not have to appear. In fact, Mr. McClenny failed to have the cases continued, and the client was convicted in his absence. The cases were resolved after the client filed a pro se motion to rehear.

go to opinion (posted 5/1/03)

 

April 28, 2003

Jerry E. Dishner, P. O. Box 536, Gate City, VA 24251-0536

VSB Docket No. 03-000-2142

On April 25, 2003, the Virginia State Bar Disciplinary Board suspended Jerry E. Dishner's license to practice law after he failed to comply with a board order.

go to opinion (posted 4/29.03)

 

April 28, 2003* **

JOSEPH DEE MORRISSEY, 7 South Adams Street, Richmond, Virginia 23220-5601

VSB Docket No. 01-000-2648

On April 25, 2003, the Virginia State Bar Disciplinary Board revoked Joseph Dee Morrissey's license to practice law. By unanimous decision, the board found that Mr. Morrissey did not to comply with former Va. S. Ct. R. Part 6, §IV, ¶13.K(1) following the December 2000 suspension of his license. The rule requires an attorney whose license has been suspended to promptly notify all clients, judges and opposing counsel in pending litigation and to furnish proof of the notifications to the Virginia State Bar. The rule also requires an attorney to make appropriate arrangements for the disposition of client matters in conformity with the clients' wishes. The board found that Mr. Morrissey's multiple violations of the rule, coupled with his lengthy disciplinary record, warranted the revocation of his license.

go to opinion (posted 5/16/03)

 

April 28, 2003* **

Roger Cory Hinde, Suite 101, 5002 Monument Avenue, Richmond, VA 23230

VSB Docket Nos. 02-031-1044, 02-031-3428, 03-031-0336, 03-031-0525

On April 25, 2003, the Virginia State Bar Disciplinary Board suspended Roger Cory Hinde's license to practice law for four years. In addition to trust account record keeping violations, lack of diligence, failure to communicate with a client and filing a non-meritorious action, the Disciplinary Board found that in each of the four cases Mr. Hinde had failed to respond to lawful requests for information from the bar and obstructed the bar's lawful investigation of the complaints. Mr. Hinde violated the disciplinary rule requiring attorneys to respond to lawful requests for information from the bar by failing to file a written response to any of the bar complaints, failing to submit to an interview by a bar investigation, failing to comply with subpoenae duces tecum until he was administratively suspended, failing to answer the certification, failing to designate witnesses or exhibits in the board proceeding and failing to appear for the pre-hearing conference.

go to opinion (posted 5/13/03)

 

April 9, 2003*

Edmund Arthur Matricardi, III, Matricardi & Moylan, 5411-D Backlick Road, Springfield, VA 22151

VSB Docket No. 03-000-3053

On April 3, 2003, the Virginia State Bar Disciplinary Board summarily suspended Edmund Arthur Matricardi, III's license to practice law. On April 1, 2003, Mr. Matricardi entered a plea of guilty to charges of interception of a wire communication, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2511(1)(a). Mr. Matricardi obtained the dial-in telephone number and participation code that allowed access to a March 22, 2002, Joint Democratic Caucus conference call to which he was not invited. Mr. Matricardi used this telephone number and participation code to dial into the conference call, did not disclose his presence on the line, and tape recorded the call for approximately two and one half hours. The board ordered Mr. Matricardi to appear on April 25, 2003, to determine whether revocation or further suspension of his license is appropriate.

April 2, 2003

John Robert Sandin, Esq., 1035 Sterling Rd., Suite 105, Herndon, VA  20170

VSB Docket Number 02-051-0699

On March 21, 2003, the Virginia State Bar Fifth District Committee Section I publically reprimanded John Robert Sandin.  This was an agreed disposition of misconduct charges against Mr. Sandin.  The committee found that Mr. Sandin did not keep a client informed of the status of her personal injury case and failed to respond her phone calls and written inquiries for months.  He neglected the case and non-suited it without his client s permission.  He did not re-file the case or inform the client that she could do so.

Mr. Sandin entered into a consent judgment in favor of his client for damages resulting from his malpractice.

go to opinion (posted 4/2/03)

April 1, 2003* **

Victor Alan Motley, P.O. Box 25786, Richmond, VA 23260-5786

On March 28, 2003, the Virginia State Bar Disciplinary Board revoked Victor Alan Motley's license to practice law for misconduct in two cases. In the first case, the board found that Mr. Motley failed to follow trust account requirements. In the second, the board found that Mr. Motley engaged in the unauthorized practice of law while his license was suspended and in professional conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation. In both cases, the board found that he committed a crime or deliberately wrongful act that reflected adversely on his fitness to practice law.

Mr. Motley's license was suspended on November 30, 2000, and has remained suspended since that time.

go to opinion (posted 4/28/03)

March 31, 2003* **

Jeffrey Bourke Rice, Esq., 10521 Judicial Dr., Suite 307, Fairfax, VA 22030

VSB Docket Number 02-052-0197

On March 28, 2003, the Virginia State Bar Disciplinary Board suspended Jeffrey Bourke Rice's license to practice law for one year. The board found that Mr. Rice failed to act with diligence and promptness on behalf of a client who hired him to seek a reduction of his sentence in a criminal matter. The board also found the Mr. Rice failed to appear for a district committee hearing after being served personally with a subpoena. Mr. Rice has a prior disciplinary record.

*On April 1, 2003, Mr. Rice filed an appeal to the Supreme Court of Virginia.

**On April 2, 2003, the Virginia Supreme Court stayed the one year suspension pending appeal.

go to opinion (posted 5/7/03)

On February 20, 2004, the Virginia Supreme Court affirmed the board’s order in part and reversed it in part. The court remanded the matter for reconsideration of the sanction.

go to opinion (posted 5/25/04)

On May 21, 2004, after a hearing on the sanction, the board suspended Mr. Rice's license for one year.

On June 10, 2004, the Virginia Supreme Court stayed the one year suspension pending appeal. (posted 6/14/04)

 

 

March 31, 2003*

Margaret Ellen Hyland, Suite 300, 307 Lafayette Boulevard, Fredericksburg, VA 22401-6066

 

March 21, 2003

John Kelly Dixon, III, 7907 Chowning Circle, Richmond, Virginia 23294

VSB Docket Nos. 02-031-1698, 02-031-1872, 02-031-2476, 03-031-0553, 03-031-0751, 03-031-1575, 03-031-2195 and 03-033-2575

On March 28, 2003, the Virginia State Bar Disciplinary Board suspended John Kelly Dixon, III's license to practice law in Virginia for five years with terms. Mr. Dixon failed to deposit client fees in his attorney trust account, handle client matters promptly and respond to clients' inquiries. Mr. Dixon had no prior disciplinary record. The terms imposed in connection with the suspension require Mr. Dixon to maintain a current address of record with the bar and return client files promptly upon request. If Mr. Dixon fails to comply with the terms, his license to practice law in Virginia will be revoked.

go to opinion (posted 4/2/03)

 

March 21, 2003

John Henry Partridge, 761 Monroe Street, Herndon, VA 20170

VSB Docket Nos. 01-053-1455, 01-053-2875, 01-053-3162, 02-053-0692, 02-053-0855, 02-053-2985, 02-053-3258, 02-053-3582, 02-053-3616, 03-053-0019

On March 20, 2003, pursuant to an agreed disposition, the Virginia State Bar Disciplinary Board, suspended John Henry Partridge's license to practice law for a period of thirty months, effective May 1, 2003, directed him to make certain payments to former clients, and required him to engage the services of a law office management consultant under certain circumstances upon his return to the private practice of law. The board also ordered that Mr. Partridge's license be revoked in the event of noncompliance with the terms of discipline imposed.

Among other things, the board found that Mr. Partridge failed to place legal fees in an attorney trust account prior to his having earned them; failed to provide accountings to clients for fees claimed to have been earned; failed to attend promptly to matters undertaken for clients; failed to communicate with clients; provided a court with a false reason for needing an extension of time in which to serve process; filed a "pro se" lawsuit on behalf of a client whom he represented at the time of filing; and failed to respond to bar complaints.

go to opinion (posted 3/21/03)

 

March 13, 2003*

Robert M. Short, Esquire, 2567 Chain Bridge Road., Vienna, VA 22181

VSB Docket Number 03-000-2726

On March 13, 2003, the Disciplinary Board summarily suspended Robert M. Short's license to practice law in the Commonwealth of Virginia. On March 12, 2003, a receiver was appointed to take over Mr. Short's law practice. In February, Mr. Short stole approximately $400,000 from the trust account of the law firm that rented him office space in Vienna, Virginia. Shortly thereafter, he abandoned his law practice and clients, and left town. On February 27, 2003, he was arrested in Kansas on drug charges, and over $200,000 was confiscated from his automobile. Mr. Short was released and his whereabouts are unknown. An expedited hearing is set for March 28, 2003 to determine whether Mr. Short's law license should be revoked.

 

March 12, 2003

Kelly Kathleen Latimer, 9259 Mosby St., Manassas, VA 20110-5037

VSB Docket Number 03-052-2679

On March 7, 2003, Kelly Kathleen Latimer consented to the revocation of her license to practice law in Virginia. Ms Latimer surrendered her license on the same day she pled guilty in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia to one count of conspiracy to distribute cocaine base("crack") and one count of conspiracy to distribute cocaine.

 

March 4, 2003

James F. Pascal, 11417 Hilbingdon Road, Richmond, Virginia 23233.

VSB Docket No. 03-031-2021

On February 12, 2003, the Third District Committee, Section I, held a show cause hearing to determine whether James F. Pascal had complied with terms issued in connection with a private reprimand. The terms required him to certify to bar counsel every six months that he is maintaining and using an attorney trust account, to obtain six hours of CLE credit in law office management and to submit to random audits of his trust account records by the bar no more than twice a year for two years. After an evidentiary hearing, the committee determined that Mr. Pascal had failed to comply with each of these terms and imposed the alternate sanction of a public reprimand.

go to opinion (posted 3/4/03)

 

March, 3, 2003

Lee Robert Arzt, Suite 208, 8001 Franklin Farms Drive, Richmond, Virginia 23229

VSB Docket No. 99-033-1567

On February 27, 2003, the Virginia State Bar Disciplinary Board entered an admonition against Lee Robert Arzt on a charge that he committed a crime or other deliberately wrongful act that reflected adversely on his fitness to practice law. The charge arose from Mr. Arzt engaging in sexual activity with a client at a time when he knew the client to be receiving medications and therapy for her emotional and psychiatric condition. A charge alleging failure to inform his client of pertinent communications from a third party was dismissed. In determining to impose an admonition, the board considered Mr. Arzt's lack of any prior record of discipline over 31 years of practice and the impact of this public finding of an ethical violation, his cooperation (Mr. Arzt and the bar expedited the hearing by entering into over 125 factual stipulations), his demonstrated remorse for his conduct, and the fact that he had already sought counseling with regard to this incident and his role in it.

go to opinion (posted 3/21/03)

 

March 3, 2003

Rickey Gene Young, 943 Starling Avenue, Martinsville, VA 24112-6405

VSB Docket Numbers 99-090-0740, 01-090-1001, 01-090-1349, 01-090-1736, 01-090-1950, 01-090-2312, 01-090-3086, 02-090-0036, 02-090-0129

On February 26, 2003, Rickey Gene Young consented to revocation of his license to practice law rather than defend nine pending misconduct complaints. The most serious allegations were misdemeanor convictions for violating a court order in 2001 and for failing to file tax returns from 1993 through 1997. Mr. Young consented to the revocation after the Virginia State Bar Disciplinary Board appointed a guardian ad litem to represent him.

 

March 3, 2003

Arnold Reginald Henderson, V, 116 East Franklin Street, Suite 102, Richmond, VA 23219.

VSB Docket #02-032-0746

On February 28, 2003, the Virginia State Bar Disciplinary Board issued an admonition against Arnold Reginald Henderson, V. The board found that Mr. Henderson knowingly made a false statement of fact to a tribunal, and offered evidence that he knew to be false and had engaged in professional conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation in a rule to show cause proceeding in New Kent County Circuit Court. The show cause proceeding arose due to Mr. Henderson's failure to appear as defense counsel on the scheduled second day of a criminal jury trial.

go to opinion (posted 4/2/03)

 

February 28, 2003

Lawrence Bradford Haskin, 1816 Duke of Norfolk Quay, Virginia Beach, Virginia 23454

VSB Docket No. 03-000-2020

The Virginia State Bar Disciplinary Board suspended Lawrence Bradford Haskin's license to practice law based on a disability. The action was by agreement of the bar, Mr. Haskin, and his guardian ad litem. The suspension will remain in place until further order of the board.

go to opinion (posted 2/28/03)

 

 

 

February 21, 2003*

Samuel B. Davis, Jr., 437 Winterhaven Drive, Newport News, Virginia 23606

VSB Docket No. 02-010-0019

On February 20, 2003, a three-judge panel of the Circuit Court of the City of Newport News revoked Samuel B. Davis, Jr.'s law license. The court found that on repeated occasions Mr. Davis willfully failed to comply with his obligations as administrator of an estate. The evidence established that Mr. Davis filed frivolous motions, summonsed witnesses who had no connection to the case, and willfully disobeyed a circuit court order. The three-judge panel ruled unanimously that the willful, deliberate and repeated nature of Mr. Davis's violations warranted the revocation of his license to practice law.

go to opinion (posted 8/12/03)

go to notice of hearing (posted 8/12/03)

February 20, 2003

John Wayne Bevis, Esquire, 10521 Judicial Dr., Suite 120, Fairfax, VA 22030-5160

VSB Docket Numbers 01-051-1629 and 02-051-1404

On February 9, 2003, pursuant to agreed dispositions, a subcommittee of the Fifth District Committee, Section I, issued two public reprimands with terms to John Wayne Bevis for a pattern of neglect in a divorce case and a real estate contract case. Mr. Bevis also failed to communicate with his clients in both cases.

go to opinion 01-051-1629 (posted 2/20/03)

go to opinion 02-051-1404 (posted 2/20/03)

 

February 12, 2003

Wesley Lee Pendergrass, 210 Florence Drive, Hampton, Virginia 23666-2931

VSB Docket Number 02-010-1841

On February 7, 2003, the Virginia State Bar Disciplinary Board approved an agreed disposition of disciplinary charges against Wesley Lee Pendergrass. The agreement provides for a one-year suspension of Mr. Pendergrass's license to practice law but suspends imposition of the sanction conditioned upon his engaging in no further misconduct for one year. The charges concerned Mr. Pendergrass' failure to perfect an appeal for a court-appointed client and his failure to advise the client that the appeal was dismissed because of his error. In approving the agreed disposition, the board considered Mr. Pendergrass' prior disciplinary record, which includes four findings of misconduct.

go to opinion (posted 2/13/03)

 

February 6, 2003*

Harvey L. Lasky, 26201 Lost Horse Lane, Brooksville, Florida 34601-6407

VSB Docket No. 03-000-2355

On February 5, 2003, the Virginia State Bar Disciplinary Board summarily suspended Harvey L. Lasky's license to practice law in Virginia. The action was based on the decision of the Supreme Court of the State of New Jersey to suspend his New Jersey license for six months. The board ordered Mr. Lasky to appear on February 28, 2003, to show cause his Virginia license should not be suspended for six months.

 

February 3, 2003*

Edward Joseph Hodkinson, 23 Le Baron Street, Fall River, MA 02720-5909

VSB Docket Number 03-000-2224

On January 30, 2003, the Virginia State Bar Disciplinary Board summarily suspended Edward Joseph Hodkinson's license to practice law in Virginia. The suspension was based on the indefinite suspension of his Massachusetts license by the Supreme Judicial Court for Suffolk County. The board ordered Mr. Hodkinson to appear on February 28, 2003, to show cause why his Virginia license should not be suspended indefinitely.

January 31, 2003

On January 29, 2003, a subcommittee of the Fifth District Committee, Section II issued a public reprimand with terms to Robert Michael Short. The subcommittee found that he did not handle a personal injury action diligently and promptly and did not communicate with his client.

This was an agreed disposition of disciplinary charges against Mr. Short.

go to opinion (posted 1/31/03)

 

January 30, 2003

BENJAMIN THOMAS REED, 4504 Colley Avenue, Norfolk, VA 23508

VSB Docket Nos. 01-021-0137, 01-021-3249, 01-021-1360, 01-021-3005

On January 29, 2003, the Virginia State Bar Disciplinary Board suspended Benjamin Thomas Reed's license to practice law for thirty days, effective April 15, 2003. This was an agreed disposition of disciplinary charges against Mr. Reed. Mr. Reed stipulated that he neglected appeals or post-trial motions in three court-appointed criminal cases and in one of the three cases also failed to communicate with a client. The parties agreed to dismiss two other matters.

go to opinion (posted 1/30/03)

 

January 23, 2003

Charles Daniel Chambliss, Jr., 21^st Center, Suite 207, 2025 East Main Street, Richmond, Virginia 23223

VSB Docket Nos. 02-033-3090, 02-033-3488, 02-033-3796 and 03-033-0261

Charles Daniel Chambliss, Jr. consented to the revocation of his license to practice law in Virginia effective January 23, 2003. Mr. Chambliss acknowledged that he neglected four client matters, did not communicate with some clients and failed to comply with disciplinary rules governing attorney trust accounts. Mr. Chambliss also acknowledged that he did not respond to the bar's repeated requests for information about the cases and his attorney trust account, thereby obstructing the bar's investigation of the misconduct allegations.

 

January 8, 2003

Dale Alan Gipe, 3610 Marquette Road, Richmond, Virginia 23234.

VSB Docket Nos. 99-031-3026, 02-031-1879 and 02-031-3666

On January 6, 2003, pursuant to an agreed disposition, the Third District Committee, Section I, publicly reprimanded Dale Alan Gipe for neglecting a bankruptcy matter and failing to communicate with his client, and in two other matters for failing to act in a reasonably diligent manner and properly supervise a non-lawyer employee.

go to opinion (posted 1/13/03)

 

January 8, 2003

Roger Cory Hinde, 5002 Monument Avenue, Suite 101, Richmond, VA 23230

VSB Docket Nos. 02-031-1044, 02-031-3428, 03-031-0669, 03-031-0366, 03-031-0525

On December 2, 2002, the Disciplinary Board suspended Mr. Hinde's license to practice law in the Commonwealth of Virginia after he failed to comply fully with subpoenae duces tecum requiring production of client files and trust account records. On December 13, 2002, the Disciplinary Board lifted the interim suspension following Mr. Hinde's production of additional documents on December 12, 2002, and execution of a certification indicating that he had not produced certain trust account records.

 

January 7, 2003

Francis Douglas Foord, Office of Public Defender, Suite 300, 2300 Fall Hill Avenue, Fredericksburg, VA 22401

VSB Docket Nos. 00-041-1868, 00-041-2098, 01-041-0812, 01-041-3134, and 02-041-1296

On January 7, 2003, pursuant to an agreed disposition, the Virginia State Bar Disciplinary Board suspended Francis Douglas Foord's license to practice law for a period of thirty days, effective February 1, 2003. Among other acts of misconduct, Mr. Foord neglected a client's personal injury claim and failed to communicate with the client; lost or misplaced documentary evidence furnished him by clients for use at trial; failed to act with reasonable diligence while representing a criminal defendant; and failed to respond to bar complaints and to requests for information made by a Virginia State Bar investigator.

go to opinion (posted 1/7/03)

 

January 7, 2003*

Clifford John Quinn, 1129 Simsbury Court, Crofton, Maryland 21114

VSB Docket No. 03-051-1526

On January 7, 2003, the Virginia State Bar Disciplinary Board summarily suspended Clifford John Quinn's license to practice law in Virginia. The suspension was based upon Mr. Quinn's conviction on September 12, 2002, of several felonies in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland. Mr. Quinn was ordered to appear before the board on January 24, 2003, to determine whether his license should be revoked or further suspended.

The Disciplinary Board continued this matter until Friday, March 28, 2003.