June
27,
2005
David
Ashley
Grant
Nelson,
150
David
Bruce
Avenue,
P,O.
Box
249,
Charlotte
Court
House,
VA
23923
VSB
Docket
No.
05-090-1665
On
June
24,
2005,
the
Virginia
State
Bar
Disciplinary
Board
suspended
David
Ashley
Grant
Nelson's
license
to
practice
law
for
partial
compliance
with a
bar
subpoena
duces
tecum.
June
27,
2005
Jimmie
Ray
Lawson,
II,
2712
Virginia
Avenue,
Collinsville,
Virginia
24078
VSB
Docket
Nos.
04-090-1935,
04-090-2047,
04-090-2850,
04-090-3059,
05-090-2261,
05-090-2478,
05-090-2629,
05-090-2942,
05-090-2990
and
05-090-3184
On
June
24,
2005,
the
Virginia
State
Bar
Disciplinary
Board
revoked
Jimmie
Ray
Lawson
II's
license
to
practice
law.
The
board
found
that
he
repeatedly
lied
to
clients,
employees,
and
the
bar;
repeatedly
stole
client
funds;
unsuccessfully
invested
client
funds
in
businesses
he was
involved
with
without
client
consent;
wrongfully
obtained
mortgage
funds
through
a
series
of
fraudulent
mortgages;
and
forged
documents.
The
board
also
found
that
Mr.
Lawson
commingled
funds
in his
trust
account
and
did
not
keep
trust
account
records.
go to opinion (pdf posted 8/4/05)
June
22,
2005
James
A.
Winstead,
Esq.,
308
Mapleshore
Drive,
Chesapeake,
VA23320-6920
VSB
Docket
Nos.
04-010-0286,
04-010-2139,
04-010-2475
and
04-010-1781
On
June
21,
2005,
the
Virginia
State
Bar
Disciplinary
Board
suspended
James
A.
Winstead's
license
to
practice
law
for
three
years.
In
several
cases,
Mr.
Winstead
failed
to
deposit
advance
fees
into
his
trust
account,
failed
to
maintain
appropriate
trust
account
records,
and
failed
to
reasonably
communicate
with
his
clients.
In one
case,
he
demonstrated
a lack
of
diligence
by
missing
a
court
deadline.
This
was an
agreed
disposition
of
misconduct
charges.
Mr.
Winstead
also
agreed
not to
return
to the
practice
of law
following
the
suspension.
go to opinion (pdf posted 6/29/05)
June
16,
2005
Paul
Christian
Stamm,
Jr.,
Esquire,
P.O.
Box
2015,
Kilmarnock,
VA
22482-2015
VSB
Docket
No.
04-060-3232
The
Virginia
State
Bar
Disciplinary
Board
on
June
14,
2005,
approved
an
agreed
disposition
imposing
a
public
reprimand
upon
Paul
Christian
Stamm
Jr.
for
failing
to
fulfill
his
fiduciary
duties
as
trustee
of an
inter
vivos
trust.
go to opinion (pdf posted 6/29/05)
June
16,
2005
Dorothea
J.
Peters,
Esquire,
1427
Powhatan
Street,
Alexandria,
Virginia
22314-1343
VSB
Docket
No.
04-042-1688
On
May
27,
2005,
the
Virginia
State
Bar
Fourth
District
Committee,
Section
II,
issued
a
public
reprimand
with
terms
to
Dorathea
J.
Peters.
This
was an
agreed
disposition
of
misconduct
charges
related
to
neglect
of a
client
matter,
trust
account
violations,
and
failure
to
respond
to a
lawful
demand
for
information
during
investigation
of a
bar
complaint.
go to opinion (pdf posted 6/16/05)
June
1,
2005
Dion
Francis
Richardson,
Allied
Arts
Building,
Ste.
15B,
725
Church
Street,
Lynchburg,
VA
24504
VSB
Docket
No.
05-090-1878
On
May
31,
2005,
a
Virginia
State
Bar
Ninth
District
Committee
issued
a
public
reprimand
to
Dion
Francis
Richardson.
A
subcommittee
found
that
after
he
failed to
serve
a
personal
injury
lawsuit
on
defendants
within
a year
after
a suit
was
filed,
he
took a
voluntary
nonsuit
of the
case
without consulting
with
his
client.
Mr.
Richardson
then
did
not
refile
and
serve
the
lawsuit
as
required
by
law.
This
was an
agreed
disposition
of
misconduct
charges.
go to opinion (pdf posted 6/2/05)
May
31,
2005
*
Albert
Raoul
Coll,
55
Washington
Street,
Newport
RI
02840
VSB
Docket
Number
05-000-4245
On
May
26,
2005,
the
Virginia
State
Bar
Disciplinary
Board
suspended
Albert
Raoul
Coll's
license
to
practice
law
because
on
March
15,
2005,
he
pleaded
guilty
in the
United
States
District
Court
for
Rhode
Island
to a
criminal
information
charging
him
with a
violation
of a
federal
law.
He
admitted
that
he
knowingly
misrepresented
to
United
States
officials
that
the
purpose
of a
visit
to
Cuba
was to
visit
his
sick
aunt,
when
he was
visiting
his
girlfriend.
On
June
24,
2005,
the
board
will
consider
whether
Mr.
Coll's
license
should
be
suspended
or
revoked.
*On
June
24,
2005,
the
Virginia
State
Bar
Disciplinary
Board
suspended
Mr.
Coll's
license
to
practice
law
for
one
hour
commencing
on May
26,
2005
from
12:00
a.m.
to
1:00
a.m.
go to opinion (posted 7/13/05)
May
24,
2005
Jeffrey
Ellis
Gonzalez-Perez,
2111
Wilson
Boulevard,
Suite
700,
Arlington,
Virginia
22201
VSB
Docket
No.
04-041-1164
On
May
20,
2005,
the
Virginia
State
Bar
Disciplinary
Board
suspended
Jeffrey
Ellis
Gonzalez-Perez's
license
to
practice
law
for
two
years.
Mr.
Gonzalez-Perez
failed
to
promptly
refund
unearned
fees
to his
client;
failed
to
respond
to a
bar
complaint;
and
made a
false
statement
to a
Virginia
State
Bar
investigator.
In
addition,
the
board
found
that
Mr.
Gonzalez-Perez
held
himself
out as
an
attorney
authorized
to
practice
law
during
a time
when
his
license
to
practice
law
was
administratively
suspended.
go to opinion (pdf posted 6/22/05)
May
23,
2005
Gerald
Manly
Bowen,
3174
Kirkwell
Place,
Herndon,
VA
22076
3309
VSB
Docket
No.
05-000-3792
On
May
20,
2005,
the
Virginia
State
Bar
Disciplinary
Board
suspended
Gerald
Manly
Bowen's
license
to
practice
law
after
he
failed
to
comply
with a
board
order.
go to opinion (pdf posted 6/22/05)
May
19,
2005
HUNTER
B.
CHAPMAN,
14115
LOVER'S
LANE,
SUITE
110, CULPEPER,
VA
22701
VSB
Docket
No.
03-070-2631
On
May
12,
2005,
the
Virginia
State
Bar's
Seventh
District
Committee
issued
a
public
admonition
with
terms
to
Hunter
B.
Chapman.
The
committee
found
he did
not
meet
his
professional
and
fiduciary
responsibilities
in a
real
estate
settlement
matter.
He did
not
follow
the
lender's
settlement
instructions
and
improperly
disbursed
funds,
did
not
use a
Virginia
State
Bar
approved
bank
for
his
escrow
account,
and
did
not
inform
his
clients
of
pertinent
facts.
This
was an
agreed
disposition
of
misconduct
charges
against
Mr.
Chapman.
go to opinion (pdf posted 5/20/05)
May
13,
2005
David
Charles
Dickey,
P.O.
Box
218
Stanardsville,
VA
22973-0218
VSB
Docket
No.
04-070-2582
On
May
12,
2005,
the
Disciplinary
Board,
by
agreement,
imposed
a
public
reprimand
with
terms
against
David
Charles
Dickey.
Mr.
Dickey
represented
a
client
in the
purchase
of
unimproved
land.
He
failed
to pay
off
the
seller's
delinquent
real
estate
taxes
and a
judgment
lien
on the
property
and
failed
to
tell
his
client
about
these
encumbrances.
When
the
client
discovered
the
encumbrances
and
tried
to
contact
Mr.
Dickey,
he
failed
to
return
the
client's
phone
calls.
Mr.
Dickey
also
failed
to
reconcile
his
trust
account
on a
regular
basis.
go to opinion (pdf posted 5/17/05)
May 3,
2005
*
James
Anthony
Granoski,
8207
Doctor
Craik
Court,
Alexandria,
Virginia
22306
VSB
Docket
No.
05-000-3904
On
April
29,
2005,
the
Virginia
State
Bar
Disciplinary
Board
summarily
suspended
James
Anthony
Granoski's
license
to
practice
law in
Virginia.
The
action
was
based
on an
order
of the
Supreme
Court
of
Florida
suspending
Mr.
Granoski's
license
to
practice
in
Florida
for
ten
days.
The
Florida
misconduct
charges
included
concealment
of
evidence;
failure
to
respond
to a
bar
inquiry;
failure
to
respond
to a
bar
inquiry
in
writing;
violation
or
attempted
violation
of bar
rules;
conduct
involving
dishonesty,
fraud,
deceit,
or
misrepresentation;
and
conduct
prejudicial
to the
administration
of
justice.
Mr.
Granoski
was
ordered
to
appear
before
the
board
on May
20,
2005,
to
show
cause
why
the
same
discipline
should
not be
imposed
in
Virginia.
*On
May
20,
2005,
a
panel
of the
Virginia
State
Bar
Disciplinary
Board
suspended
Mr.
Granoski's
license
to
practice
law in
Virginia
for 10
days ,
effective
April
29,
2005.
April
27,
2005
Nicholas
Astor
Pappas,
411
Chatham
Square
Office
Park,
Fredericksburg,
VA
22405
VSB
Docket
No.
03-060-1064
On
April
22,
2005,
a
panel
of the
Virginia
State
Bar
Disciplinary
Board
dismissed
all
charges
of
misconduct
against
Nicholas
Astor
Pappas.
One
case
was
continued
until
July
22,
2005.
April
20,
2005
*
Patrick
Earl
Bailey,
8908
Bluffwood
Lane,
Fort
Washington,
Maryland
20744
VSB
Docket
No.
03-010-3435
On
April
19,
2005,
a
three-judge
panel
of the
Fairfax
County
Circuit
Court
suspended
Patrick
Earl
Bailey's
law
license
for
three
years.
The
panel
found
that
Mr.
Bailey
violated
a Rule
of
Professional
Conduct
that
provides
that
an
applicant
for
admission
to the
bar
shall
not
knowingly
make a
false
statement
of
material
fact
on his
application.
*On
November
9,
2005
Mr.
Bailey
filed
an
appeal
to the
Virginia
Supreme
Court.
go to opinion (pdf posted 12/7/05)
April
20,
2005
*
**
***
****
William
P.
Robinson,
Jr.,
256
West
Freemason
Street,
Norfolk,
VA
23510-1221
VSB
Docket
Nos.
02-022-1192,
02-022-1801
and
02-022-1876
Norfolk
Circuit
Court
Case
No.
CL04-2184
On
April
19,
2005,
a
three
judge
panel
of the
Circuit
Court
for
the
City
of
Norfolk
suspended
the
law
license
of
William
P.
Robinson
for 90
days,
effective
August
1,
2005.
The
panel
found
Mr.
Robinson's
failure
to
appear
in
court
on his
clients'
behalf
in
three
different
cases
constituted
conduct
intended
to
disrupt
a
tribunal
and
that
in
each
case
Mr.
Robinson
misrepresented
why he
failed
to
appear
in
court.
go to opinion (pdf posted 6/9/05)
*On
June
10,
2005,
Mr.
Robinson
filed
an
appeal
to the
Virginia
Supreme
Court.
**On
July
11,
2005,
the
Virginia
Supreme
Court
stayed
the
suspension.
***On
October
6,
2005,
the
Virginia
Supreme
Court
dismissed
Mr.
Robinson's
appeal,
and on
November
10,
2005,
that
court
denied
his
motion
for
reconsideration.
****On
February
8,
2006,
the
circuit
court
set
April
1,
2006,
as the
effective
date
for
Mr.
Robinson's
90 day
suspension.
go to Robinson order (pdf posted 3/23/06)
go to Robinson order (pdf posted 4/19/06)
April
19,
2005
William
P.
Robinson,
Jr.,
256
West
Freemason
Street,
Norfolk,
VA
23510-1221
VSB
Docket
No.
03-022-3450
On
April
18,
2005,
a
three
judge
panel
of the
Circuit
Court
for
the
City
of
Norfolk
reprimanded
William
P.
Robinson
for
failing
to
handle
two
criminal
appeals
to the
Supreme
Court
of
Virginia
in a
prompt
and
diligent
manner.
Each
appeal
was
dismissed
because
Mr.
Robinson
failed
to
comply
with a
filing
deadline.
Mr.
Robinson
helped
each
client
obtain
a
delayed
appeal.
The
court
dismissed
charges
that
Mr.
Robinson
failed
to
competently
and
promptly
handle
a
third
appeal.
go to opinion (pdf posted 6/22/05)
April
19,
2005
Todd
Jay
French
, 4209
Fitzhugh
Avenue,
Richmond,
Virginia
23230
VSB
Docket
Nos.
05-033-2803
and
05-033-2615
On
April
18,
2005,
the
Virginia
State
Bar
Disciplinary
Board
suspended
Todd
Jay
French's
license
to
practice
law
for
failure
to
respond
to a
bar
subpoena
duces
tecum.
April
19,
2005
Jeffrey
Carl
Constantz,
2020
N.
Roosevelt
Street,
Arlington,
Virginia 22205
VSB
Docket
No.
02-041-1804
On
April
15,
2005,
the
Virginia
State
Bar
Disciplinary
Board
suspended
the
law
license
of
Jeffrey
Carl
Constantz
for
sixty
days.
Mr.
Constantz,
a
former
bank
president,
was
found
by the
Fairfax
County
Circuit
Court
in a
civil
case
to
have
committed
fraud
against
the
bank
and to
have
breached
fiduciary
duties
in
connection
with
extensions
of
credit
to a
bank
customer.
While
his
appeal
from
the
court's
ruling
was
pending,
Mr.
Constantz
settled
the
matter
with
the
opposing
parties.
In
approving
the
suspension,
the
board
took
into
consideration
that
Mr.
Constantz
had no
prior
disciplinary
record,
he was
cooperative
toward
the
bar
proceedings,
and he
had
been
subject
to
other
penalties
or
sanctions
for
the
misconduct.
This
was an
agreed
disposition
of
misconduct
charges
against
Mr.
Constantz.
go to opinion (pdf posted 4/22/05)
April 14, 2005
Audrey Freeman Jacobs, 2214 East Marshall Street, Richmond, Virginia 23223-7059
VSB Docket No. 05-032-0961
After a public hearing on April 8, 2005, the Virginia State Bar Third District Committee, Section II, imposed a public admonition with terms on Audrey Freeman Jacobs for violations involving lack of competence and diligence arising from her service as an administrator of a small family estate. Ms. Jacobs failed to meet deadlines for filing an inventory and accountings. She is required to complete the administration of the estate and close it with the approval of the commissioner of accounts by a set date, set up a tickler system and take continuing legal education.
go to opinion (pdf posted 5/17/05)
April 14, 2005
Neil Edward Motter, P.O. Box 132, Brandy Station, VA 22714-0132
VSB Docket No. 03-070-3619
On April 12, 2005, on motion of bar counsel, the Virginia State Bar Disciplinary Board dismissed all charges of misconduct against Neil Edward Motter .
April
8,
2005
Gerald
Arthur
Dechow,
7603
Weeping
Willow
Circle,
Sarasota,
FL
34241
VSB
Docket
No.
03-080-1718
On
March
30,
2005,
on
motion
of
bar
counsel,
the
Virginia
State
Bar
Disciplinary
Board
dismissed
all
charges
of
misconduct
against
Gerald
A.
Dechow.
March
30,
2005
In
the
Matter
of
Donald
Arnold
Denton,
4702
Wistar
Road,
Richmond,
VA
23228-2505
VSB
Docket
No.
05-032-0997
On
March
30,
2005,
the
Virginia
State
Bar
Third
District
Committee,
Section
II,
issued
a
public
reprimand
with
terms
to
Donald
Arnold
Denton.
In a
child
custody
case,
Mr.
Denton
failed
to
appear
for a
hearing
and
failed
to
obtain
leave
of
court
to
withdraw.
Other
violations
included
lack
of
diligence,
intentional
failure
to
carry
out a
contract
of
employment,
failure
to
deposit
funds
intact
to a
trust
account,
knowingly
disobeying
a
standing
rule
or a
ruling
of a
tribunal
made
in the
course
of a
proceeding,
and
committing
a
crime
or
deliberately
wrongful
act.
This
was an
agreed
disposition
of the
misconduct
charges.
go to opinion (pdf posted 4/8/05)
March
29,
2005*
**
***
****
George
Albert
Bates,
P. O.
Box
562,
Keswick,
VA
22947
VSB
Docket
No.
04-000-3675
On
March
25,
2005,
the
Virginia
State
Bar
Disciplinary
Board
revoked
George
Albert
Bates's
license
to
practice
law.
Mr.
Bates
was
convicted
in
April
2002
of
malicious
wounding,
a
felony,
for
which
he was
sentenced
to a
prison
term.
go to opinion (pdf posted 4/14/05)
*On May 9, 2005, Mr. Bates filed an appeal to the Virginia Supreme Court.
**On
August
10,
2005
Mr.
Bates
filed
a
motion
to
amend
the
assignments
of
error
and
for an
extension
of
time.
***On
August
30,
2005,
the
Virginia
Supreme
Court
denied
the
motions
and
dismissed
the
appeal.
****On
November
10,
2005,
the
Virginia
Supreme
Court
denied
Mr.
Bates
petition
for
rehearing.
March
29,
2005
Lawrence
Raymond
Morton,
17850
Curtis
Drive,
Dumfries,
VA
22026
VSB
Docket
No.
04-053-1980
On
March
25,
2005,
the
Virginia
State
Bar
Disciplinary
Board
imposed
a
public
reprimand
with
terms
on
Lawrence
Raymond
Morton. The
board
found
that
Mr.
Morton
failed
to
respond
to
interrogatories
in a
worker's compensation
matter
and
failed
to
respond
to the
Worker's
Compensation
Commission's
directives.
These
failures
resulted
in
dismissal
of the
client's
claim. Mr.
Morton
also
did
not
advise
his
client
of the
status
of the
matter
and
that
the
matter
had
been
dismissed.
Mr.
Morton,
whose
license
to
practice
law is
currently
suspended
for
misconduct
in a
different
matter,
must
hire a
law-office
management
consultant
if he
resumes
practice.
If he
does
not
comply,
his
license
will
be
revoked.
go to opinion (pdf posted 4/8/05)
March
28,
2005
William
Mark
Russell,
P.O.
Box
894,
Shelbyville,
TN
37162
VSB
Docket
No:
05-000-2818
On
March
25,
2005,
on
motion
of bar
counsel,
the
Virginia
State
Bar
Disciplinary
Board
dismissed
a show
cause
action
against
William
Mark
Russell.
Mr.
Russell's
Virginia
license
remains
suspended
on
other
grounds.
March
25,
2005
Gary
Blane
Vanover
,
P.O.
Box
890,
Clintwood,
VA
24228-0890
VSB
Docket
No.
05-000-0450
On
March
25,
2005,
the
Virginia
State
Bar
Disciplinary
Board
suspended
Gary
Blane
Vanover's
license
to
practice
law
on
disability
grounds.
go to opinion (pdf posted 4/6/05)
March
25,
2005
David
Nash
Payne
,
1326
Chesapeake
Avenue,
Hampton,
VA
23661
VSB
Docket
No.05-000-2817
On
March
25,
2005,
the
Virginia
State
Bar
Disciplinary
Board
revoked
the
law
license
of
David
Nash
Payne
for
failing
to
notify
clients
of a
previous
suspension
of
his
license.
go to opinion (pdf posted 4/6/05)
March
23,
2005
Neil
Kuchinsky,
200
Lakeview
Avenue,
P.O.
Box
125,
Colonial
Heights,
Virginia
23834-0125
VSB
Docket
No.
04-031-2721
On
March
23,
2005,
a
panel
of the
Virginia
State
Bar
Third
District
Committee,
Section
I,
dismissed
charges
of
misconduct
against
Neil
Kuchinsky.
March
21,
2005
* **
***
****
*****
Bradley
Glenn
Pollack,
148
North
Main
Street,
Woodstock,
VA
22664
VSB
Docket
Nos.
02-070-1010,
02-070-3093,
02-070-3767
On
March
14,
2005,
a
three-judge
panel
of the
Shenandoah
Circuit
Court
suspended
Bradley
Glenn
Pollack's
license
to
practice
law
for
two
years,
effective
March
25,
2005,
because
of
misconduct
in
civil
and
criminal
cases.
*On
March
25,
2005,
the
Virginia
Supreme
Court
stayed
the
suspension
pending
appeal.
**On
June
24,
2005,
Mr.
Pollack
filed
an
appeal
with
the
Virginia
Supreme
Court.
***On
November
22,
2005,
the
Virginia
Supreme
Court
dismissed
the
appeal.
****On
January
25,
2006,
the
Virginia
Supreme
Court
denied
a
rehearing
of
the
matter.
*****On
May
4,
2006,
the
circuit
court
set
May
4,
2006
as
the
effective
date
of
the
two
year
suspension.
go to opinion (pdf posted 6/9/05)
March
21,
2005
Arnold
Reginald
Henderson,
V,
Suite
102,
116
East
Franklin
Street,
Richmond,
Virginia
23219
VSB
Docket
No.
04-032-2883
On
March
18,
2005,
the
Virginia
State
Bar
Third
District
Committee,
Section
II,
issued
a
public
reprimand
with
terms
to
Arnold
Reginald
Henderson
V
for
misconduct
related
to the
representation
of a
client
in a
criminal
case.
The
committee
found
that
Mr.
Henderson
did
not
respond
to the
bar's
demands
for
information
in a
disciplinary
matter,
practiced
law
while
his
license
was
suspended,
failed
to
maintain
sufficiently
detailed
trust
account
records,
and
failed
to
account
for
funds
paid
to him
by his
client.
When
the
representation
ended,
Mr.
Henderson
failed
to pay
unearned
fees
and
failed
to
return
the
client's
file
as
requested.
This
was an
agreed
disposition
of the
misconduct
charges.
go to opinion (pdf posted 3/22/05)
March
16,
2005
* **
Thomas
Kenneth
Plofchan,
Jr.,
Plofchan
&
Associates,
Suite
320,
46175
Westlake
Drive,
Sterling,
VA
20165
VSB
Docket
No.
02-070-0225
On
March
15,
2005,
a
three-judge
panel
in the
Circuit
Court
for
Loudon
County
dismissed
all
charges
against
Thomas
K.
Plofchan,
Jr.
on the
ground
that
the
proceeding
was
barred
by a
two
year
statute
of
limitations.
*On
March
18,
2005
the
Virginia
State
Bar
filed
a
petition
for
reconsideration
with
the
Loudoun
County
Circuit
Court.
**On
March
28,
2005,
the
three
judge
panel
denied
the
motion
for
reconsideration.
go to opinion (pdf posted 4/22/05)
March
11,
2005
Oliver
Stuart
Chalifoux,
3524
Mayland
Court,
Richmond,
VA
23233
VSB
Docket
Nos.
04-033-1180,
04-033-3078,
05-033-0422,
05-033-0852,
05-033-2062,
05-033-2247,
05-033-2924
On
March
10,
2005,
the
Virginia
State
Bar
Disciplinary
Board
revoked
Oliver
Stuart
Chalifoux's
license
to
practice
law.
Mr.
Chalifoux
consented
to the
revocation
and
admitted
the
material
facts
in
seven
pending
misconduct
cases.
The
charges
included
lack
of
diligence,
lack
of
proper
communication,
failure
to
withdraw,
failure
to
return
funds,
failure
to
return
files,
and
failure
to
respond
to the
bar's
requests
for
information.
March
10,
2005
Neil
Edward
Motter,
P.O.
Box
132,
Brandy
Station,
VA
22714-0132
VSB
Docket
No.
01-070-2416
On
March
8,
2005,
the
Virginia
State
Bar's
Seventh
District
Committee
publicly
reprimanded
Neil
Edward
Motter.
On
March
30,
2004,
Mr.
Motter,
faced
with
misconduct
charges
for
failing
to
return
a file
to a
client
in a
criminal
case,
agreed
to
comply
with
certain
terms,
after
which
the
committee
would
admonish
him.
However,
he did
not
comply — he
failed
to
take
four
additional
hours
of
continuing
legal
education,
and he
did
not
document
to the
bar
that
he had
returned
the
file.
The
committee
subsequently
imposed
a
public
reprimand,
as
required
by the
original
agreement.
go to opinion (pdf posted 3/17/05)
March
9,
2005
John
Fredrick
McGarvey,
320
West
Broad
Street,
Richmond,
Virginia
23220-4257
VSB
Docket
Nos.
04-033-2735,
04-033-2736,
05-033-2297,
05-033-3134
On
March
4,
2005,
the
Virginia
State
Bar's
Third
District
Committee,
Section
II,
imposed
a
public
reprimand
with
terms
on
John
Fredrick
McGarvey
for
failing
to
diligently
pursue
appeals
in the
Supreme
Court
of
Virginia
and
the
Virginia
Court
of
Appeals.
The
cases
included
five
appeals
that
were
dismissed
for
failure
to
include
assignments
of
error,
one
dismissed
for
failure
to
file a
petition
for
appeal,
and
one
dismissed
for
failure
to
file a
transcript
by the
court's
deadline.
This
was an
agreed
disposition
of
misconduct
charges
against
Mr.
McGarvey.
go to opinion (pdf posted 3/21/05)
March
8,
2005
John
E.
Hamilton,
Jr.,
198
Crowder
Point
Drive,
Reedville,
VA
22539
VSB
Docket
No.
04-060-3379
On
March
7,
2005,
the
Sixth
District
Committee
publicly
reprimanded
John
E.
Hamilton,
Jr.
for
failing
to
handle
a
court
appointed
client's
appeal
in a
diligent
manner,
failing
to
communicate
with
his
client,
and
ceasing
to
pursue
his
client's
appellate
rights
without
seeking
leave
of
court
to
withdraw
as
counsel
of
record.
This
was an
agreed
disposition
of
disciplinary
charges
against
Mr.
Hamilton.
go to opinion (pdf posted 3/17/05)
March
8,
2005
David
Mayer
Hill,
10207
North
Hampton
Lane,
Fredericksburg,
VA
22408
VSB
Docket
No.
04-060-3188
On
March
7,
2005,
the
Sixth
District
Committee
issued
a
public
reprimand
with
terms
to
David
Mayer
Hill.
Mr.
Hill
accepted
a fee
of
$1,000
in
August
1998
to
handle
a
traffic
case.
He did
not
provide
any
legal
services
and
did
not
refund
the
fee.
The
terms
require
Mr.
Hill
to
change
his
bar
membership
status
from
active
to
retired/disabled
and to
refund
the
$1,000.
This
was an
agreed
disposition
of
disciplinary
charges
against
Mr.
Hill.
go to opinion (pdf posted 3/17/05)
March
4,
2005
Joseph
Albert
Christian
Synan,
101
Lafayette
Boulevard,
P. O.
Box
8448,
Fredericksburg,
VA
22404-8448
VSB
Docket
No.
04-060-3682
On
March
3,
2005,
the
Sixth
District
Committee
issued
a
public
admonition
to
Joseph
Albert
Christian
Synan
for
failing
to
file a
court
appointed
client's
petition
for
appeal
of a
criminal
conviction
to the
Supreme
Court
of
Virginia
in a
timely
manner.
go to opinion (pdf posted 3/17/05)
March
4,
2005
* **
Denny
Pat
Dobbins,
P.O.
Box
1442,
Chesapeake,
VA
23327
VSB
Docket
No.
04-010-1580
On
March
3,
2005,
after
a
public
hearing,
a
panel
of the
Virginia
State
Bar's
First
District
Committee
issued
a
public
reprimand
to
Denny
Pat
Dobbins.
The
panel
found
Mr.
Dobbins
attempted
to
charge
an
unreasonable
fee,
failed
to
adequately
explain
his
fee to
his
client,
failed
to
give
his
client
a
reasonable
opportunity
to
seek
independent
advice
before
taking
security
interests
in the
client's
property,
failed
to
adequately
supervise
his
non-lawyer
employee,
committed
a
wrongful
act
adversely
reflecting
on his
fitness
to
practice
and
misrepresented
to his
client
the
purpose
of the
security
interest
he
took.
go to opinion (pdf posted 3/17/05)
*On
March
28,
2005,
Mr.
Dobbins
filed
an
appeal
with
the
Disciplinary
Board.
The
public
reprimand
is
stayed
pending
the
appeal.
**On April 12, 2005, the Virginia State Bar Disciplinary Board affirmed the public reprimand.
go to opinion (pdf posted 4/14/05)
February
25,
2005
Cara
Lynn
Romanzo,
25454
Chambers
Drive,
Chantilly,
VA
20152
VSB
Docket
Number
04-052-2544
On
February
23,
2005,
the
Virginia
State
Bar
Disciplinary
Board
suspended
Cara
Lynn Romanzo's
license
to
practice
law
for
thirty
days,
effective
retroactively
to
February
2,
2005.
During
late
2003
and
early
2004,
Romanzo
practiced
law
while
her
license
was
administratively
suspended.
This
was
an
agreed
disposition
of
misconduct
charges
against
Romanzo.
go
to
opinion
(pdf
posted
3/1/05)
February
23,
2005
Bradley
R.
Coury,
6870
Elm
Street,
Suite
200,
McLean,
VA
22101
VSB
Docket
No.
03-053-1165
On
February
15,
2005,
a
three-judge
panel
in
Fairfax
County
Circuit
Court
imposed
a
public
reprimand
with
terms
upon
Bradley
R. Coury
for
his
handling
of an
immigration
matter.
The
judges
found
that
Mr.
Coury's
fee
agreement
contained
ethically
impermissible
provisions
and
that
he
failed
to
deposit
advanced
fees
in his
attorney
trust
account,
failed
to
account
to the
client
for
the
fees
he
charged,
and
failed
to
provide
competent
representation.
Under
the
terms
of the
reprimand,
Mr.
Coury
must
hire a
law-office
management
consultant
and
make a
partial
fee
refund
to the
client.
If he
does
not
comply,
his
license
could
be
suspended
for
sixty
days.
This
is an
agreed
disposition
of
misconduct
charges
against
Mr.
Coury.
go to opinion (pdf posted 3/21/05)
February
10,
2005
Jimmie
Ray
Lawson,
II,
2712
Virginia
Avenue,
P. O.
Box
478,
Collinsville,
VA
24078
VSB
Docket
Nos.
04-090-1935,
04-090-2047,
04-090-2850,
04-090-3095
On
February
8,
2005,
the
Virginia
State
Disciplinary
Board
summarily
suspended
Jimmie
Ray
Lawson
II's
license
to
practice
law.
Mr.
Lawson
is the
subject
of a
receivership
order
issued
by the
Henry
County
Circuit
Court
and
misconduct
charges
are
pending
against
him
before
the
board.
February
8,
2005
Danny
Shelton
Shipley
1st
VA
Bank
Tower,
Suite
1410,
555
East
Main
Street,
Norfolk,
VA
23510-2213
VSB
Docket
No.
04-021-2465
On
January
28,
2005,
a
subcommittee
of the
Virginia
State
Bar's
Second
District
Committee,
Section
I,
issued
a
public
admonition
to
Danny
Shelton
Shipley
for
failing
to
perfect
a
criminal
appeal
for a
court-appointed
client,
and
failing
to
communicate
with
the
client
about
it.
This
was an
agreed
disposition
of
misconduct
charges
against
Mr.
Shipley.
go to opinion (pdf posted 2/10/05)
February
8,
2005
Spencer
Dean
Ault,
Young
&
Ault,
15
Loudoun
Street,
SW,
Suite
C,
Leesburg,
VA
20175
VSB
Docket
No.
04-070-2909
On
February
4,
2005,
a
subcommittee
of
the
Virginia
State
Bar's
Seventh
District
Committee
issued
a
public
admonition
to
Spencer
Dean
Ault
for
failing
to
diligently
and
promptly
file
required
annual
documents
with
the
commissioner
of
accounts.
This
was
an
agreed
disposition
of
misconduct
charges
against
Mr.
Ault.
go
to
opinion
(pdf
posted
3/1/05)
February
2,
2005
Alice
Kate
Markle
Twiford,
101
Old
Carriage
Way,
Williamsburg,
VA
23188
VSB
Docket
Nos.
04-060-0988,
05-060-1438,
05-060-1439,
05-000-2390
and
05-060-2401
On
February
2,
2005,
the
Virginia
State
Bar
Disciplinary
Board
revoked
Alice
Kate Markle
Twiford's
license
to
practice
law,
based
on her
prior
disciplinary
record
and
failure
to
perfect
three
court-appointed
clients'
appeals
to the
Virginia
Court
of
Appeals
in a
timely
manner
and
account
properly
for
funds
in her
real
estate
trust
account.
Ms.
Twiford
had
been
on
administrative
suspension
since
December
28,
2004,
after
she
failed
to
comply
with a
subpoena
issued
in
connection
with
the
bar's
investigation
of two
misconduct
cases.
She
consented
to the
revocation.
go to consent
to
revocation (pdf posted 2/10/05)
February
2,
2005
James
Edward
Swiger,
5900
Centreville
Road,
Suite
101,
Centreville,
VA
20121
VSB
Docket
No.
03-053-0918
On
January
25,
2005,
a
panel
of the
Virginia
State
Bar
Fifth
District
Committee,
Section
III,
dismissed
charges
of
misconduct
against
James
Edward Swiger.
February
1,
2005
Robert
Ray
Stone,
Jr.,
P.O.
Box
766,
Arlington,
VA
22216
VSB
Docket
No.
04-041-1713
On
February
1,
2005,
the
Virginia
State
Bar
Disciplinary
Board
suspended
Robert
Ray
Stone, Jr.'s
license
to
practice
law
for
failure
to
respond
to a
bar
subpoena
duces
tecum.
February
1,
2005
Jamie
Scott
Osborne, P.O.
Box
2797,
Manassas,
Virginia
20108-2797
VSB
Docket
Nos.
04-060-3592,
05-000-2199
AND
K05-060-2362
On
January
28,
2005,
the
Virginia
State
Bar
Disciplinary
Board
revoked
Jamie
Scott
Osborne's
license
to
practice
law.
Mr.
Osborne
consented
to the
revocation.
His
law
license
was
administratively
suspended
on
September
29,
2004,
after
he
failed
to
comply
with a
subpoena
issued
in
connection
with
the
bar's
investigation
of a
misconduct
complaint.
Mr.
Osborne
admitted
that
after
he was
administratively
suspended
he
continued
to
maintain
a law
office
and
that
his
handling
of two
divorce
matters
violated
the
Rules
of
Professional
Conduct.
go to consent to revocation (pdf posted 2/10/05)
January
28,
2005
Khalil
Wali
Latif,
110
North
Main
Street,
P. O.
Box
593,
Farmville,
VA
23901
VSB
Docket
No.
05-000-2308
On
January
28,
2005,
the
Virginia
State
Bar
Disciplinary
Board
suspended
Khalil
Wali
Latif's
license
to
practice
law
for
two
years
for
his
failure
to
comply
with
terms
imposed
in
connection
with
the
four-month
suspension
of his
law
license
from
September
1
through
December
31,
2003.
The
terms
were
designed
to
ensure
that
Mr.
Latif's
trust
and
operating
account
records
satisfied
the
requirements
of the
attorney
disciplinary
rules
after
he
resumed
practicing
law.
The
board
found
that
Mr.
Latif
failed
to
prove
by
clear
and
convincing
evidence
that
he had
complied
with
the
terms.
go to opinion (pdf posted 3/3/05)
January
28,
2005
Oliver
Stuart
Chalifoux,
Lexington
Commons
Office
Park,
10132
West
Broad
Street,
Glen
Allen,
VA
23060
VSB
Docket
No.
05-033-0422
On
January
28,
2005,
the
Virginia
State
Bar
Disciplinary
Board
suspended
Oliver
Stuart Chalifoux's
license
to
practice
law
for
failure
to
respond
to a
subpoena
duces
tecum.
go to opinion (posted 2/22/05)
January
27,
2005
Cary
Powell
Moseley,
Davidson
Sakolosky
et al,
Suite
450,
916
Main
Street,
P. O.
Box
798,
Lynchburg,
VA
24505
VSB
Docket
No.
03-090-2587
On
January
26,
2005,
a
three-judge
panel
in
Lynchburg
Circuit
Court
suspended
Cary
Powell
Moseley's
license
to
practice
law
for
one
year,
effective
March
1,
2005.
The
panel
found
that
Mr.
Moseley
defrauded
a
client
in
a
matter
related
to
a
fee
agreement.
During
the
investigation
that
followed,
he
presented
a
fraudulent
copy
of
the
fee
agreement
to
the
Virginia
State
Bar
and
obstructed
the
investigation.
go
to
opinion
(pdf
posted
2/16/05)
January
24,
2005
Robert
Edmund
La
Serte,
1800
Creek
Crossing
Road,
Vienna,
VA
22182
VSB
Docket
Nos.
03-053-0359
and
03-053-0942
On
January
20,
2005,
the
Virginia
State
Bar
Disciplinary
Board
suspended
Robert
Edmund
La Serte's
license
to
practice
law
for
five
years,
to
take
effect
July
26,
2005,
when a
previous
three-year
suspension
concludes.
The
board
found
that
Mr. La
Serte
failed
to
follow
Virginia
State
Bar
and
State
Corporation
Commission
requirements
for
registering
a law
practice
limited
liability
company,
and
subsequently
lied
to the
bar
when
the
matter
was
being
investigated.
The
board
also
found
that
Mr. La
Serte
formed
a law
practice
with a
nonlawyer
member,
which
is a
violation
of the
Virginia
Rules
of
Professional
Conduct,
and
that
he
requested
another
attorney
to
notarize
a will
without
the
notary's
having
witnessed
its
execution.
This
was an
agreed
disposition
of
misconduct
charges
against
Mr. La
Serte.
go to opinion (pdf posted 1/25/04)
January
18,
2005
Robert
Joseph
Hill,
10347
Democracy
Lane,
Fairfax,
VA
22030
VSB
Docket
No.
04-053-3103
On
January
13,
2005,
pursuant
to an
agreed
disposition,
a
subcommittee
of the
Virginia
State
Bar's
Fifth
District
Committee,
Section
III,
issued
a
public
reprimand
to
Robert
Joseph
Hill.
The
subcommittee
found
that
Mr.
Hill
failed
to act
diligently
and
promptly
in
representing
a
client
in a
child
support
matter,
prejudiced
the
interests
of the
client,
and
failed
to
communicate
with
the
client.
go to opinion (pdf posted 3/21/05)
January 13, 2005
Robert Spencer Lewis, 2 East Main Street, P. O. Box 1264, Martinsville, VA 24114
VSB Docket No. 05-090-0924
On January 12, 2005, the Virginia State Bar Disciplinary Board revoked
Robert Spencer Lewis's license to practice law. Mr. Lewis consented to the revocation to avoid prosecution for misconduct. He admitted that he accepted a $2500 check to satisfy a judgment held by his client but failed to remit the funds to the client.
go to opinion (pdf posted 1/13/05)
January 10, 2005
James Willis Hilldrup, Suite 220, 4343 Plank Road, Fredericksburg, Virginia 22407-4807
VSB Docket Nos. 04-060-2594 and 04-060-2595
On
January
6,
2005,
a
subcommittee
of
the
Virginia
State
Bar's
Sixth
District
Committee
issued
two
public
reprimands
with
terms
to
James
Willis Hilldrup.
In
the
first
matter,
Mr.
Hilldrup
failed
to
close
an
estate
in
a
timely
manner.
The
terms
require
him
to
withdraw
as
co-executor
of
the
estate
and
refund
the
fees
that
he
received
for
legal
services
he
rendered
as
co-executor.
In
the
second
matter,
funds
were
tendered
to
Mr.
Hilldrup
as
an
escrow
agent.
A
third
party
embezzled
the
funds
after
Mr.
Hilldrup
failed
to
deposit
them
in
his
attorney
trust
account
for
safekeeping.
Among
other
things,
the
terms
require
Mr.
Hilldrup
to
repay
the
funds.
This
was
an
agreed
disposition
of
misconduct
charges
against
Mr.
Hilldrup.
go
to
opinion
(pdf
posted
1/21/05)
January
5,
2005
Oliver
Stuart
Chalifoux,
Lexington
Commons
Office
Park,
10132
West
Broad
Street,
Glen
Allen,
Virginia
23060
VSB
Docket
No.
05-033-0852
On
January
4,
2005,
the
Virginia
State
Bar
Disciplinary
Board
suspended
Oliver
Stuart Chalifoux's
license
to
practice
law
for
failure
to
respond
to a
bar
subpoena
duces
tecum.