MARYLAND ATTORNEYS
DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS FY 2009
The Maryland Judiciary provides this information as a public service. Information contained on this web site is believed to be accurate but is not guaranteed. For more information, or to determine if an attorney has been reinstated, please contact the Attorney Grievance Commission at (410) 514-7051. This list is updated on a monthly basis.
DISCIPLINARY SUMMARIES FY 2010
ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY
SHOUP, Jonathan H. - Reprimand on August 28, 2009 by the Court of Appeals for unintentionally misappropriating funds in violation of Maryland Rules of Professional Conduct, Rule 16-609.
BALTIMORE CITY
KLEIN, Thomas - Placed on Inactive Status by Consent on August 20, 2009 by the Court of Appeals due to a medical condition.
VARES, Christopher K. - Indefinite Suspension by Consent on August 14, 2009 by the Court of Appeals. Interim Suspension was ordered October 31, 2006 based upon conviction of a crime (possession of a controlled dangerous substance), a violation of Maryland Rules of Professional Conduct, Rule 8.4(b). The Court’s August 14, 2009 Order makes an Indefinite Suspension the final disposition of the case.
BALTIMORE COUNTY
CURTIS, Charles M. - Commission Reprimand for failure to appear at his client’s hearing. When ordered to appear before the Judge to explain his absence, he appeared late and offered the Court an explanation that was untrue. His conduct violated Maryland Rules of Professional Conduct, Rules 1.3 and 8.4(c) and (d). He has since written a letter of apology to the Judge with a truthful explanation of his absence at the hearing.
CVACH, Paul R. - Indefinite Suspension by Consent on September 21, 2009 by the Court of Appeals for misappropriating trust funds, in violation of Maryland Rules of Professional Conduct, Rule 1.15.
GILLAND, Michael Brian - Disbarred by Consent on September 14, 2009 by the Court of Appeals for misusing client funds, in violation of Maryland Rules of Professional Conduct, Rules 8.4(c) and (d), 16-607 and 16-609, and Business Occupations and Professions Article, §10-306.
HOOVER-HANKERSON, Celicia - Disbarred by Consent on October 19, 2009 by the Court of Appeals for conviction of criminal charges involving submitting false invoices to the Court in the District of Columbia for payment of witnesses, in violation of Maryland Rules of Professional Conduct, Rules 8.4(b) and (d).
SIDLE, Barton J. - Commission Reprimand. While appointed as Conservator of the client affairs of a deceased attorney which led to subsequent negotiations with the attorney for the decedent’s Estate to purchase the law practice, the terms of which were memorialized in a letter, but the Estate never signed an agreement and the sale was never approved by the Court. The Conservator continued his service and acted pursuant to the terms he believed to be the agreement for the purchase of the law practice, and consistent with the agreement, periodically remitted fees to the Estate which were accepted. A dispute arose between the Conservator and some beneficiaries of the Estate with respect to whether or not an agreement existed for the sale of the law practice, now to be determined by the Circuit Court. If there is an adjudication that an enforceable purchase agreement exists for the sale of the law practice, then he is in violation of Maryland Rules of Professional Conduct, Rule 16-777 by failing to obtain court approval prior to the sale. If, however, there is an adjudication that no valid purchase agreement exists, then his sharing of fees with the non-lawyer Estate violated Maryland Rule 5.4.
WEST, Brian Grayson - Disbarred on October 6, 2009 by the Court of Appeals for intentional misappropriation of trust funds, in violation of Maryland Rules of Professional Conduct, Rules 1.8(a), 1.15, 8.4(b), (c) and (d) and Business Occupations and Professions Article, §10-306.
CALVERT COUNTY
STEUART, R. Calvert - Commission Reprimand for failure to take appropriate action on his client’s behalf and to communicate with his client concerning the representation, in violation of Maryland Rules of Professional Conduct, Rules 1.3 and 1.4.
CHARLES COUNTY
JENKINS, Frank Plowden - Disbarred by Consent on September 15, 2009 by the Court of Appeals for lack of competence, diligence, communication, misappropriations, commingling and misrepresentation, in violation of Maryland Rules of Professional Conduct, Rules 1.15 and 8.4(c).
THOMPSON, Richard Lloyd, II - Placed on Inactive Status by Consent on October 7, 2009 by the Court of Appeals due to health issues.
FREDERICK COUNTY
GLESSNER, Stephen A. - Consent to Reprimand on August 12, 2009 by Court of Appeals relating to his representation of a defendant charged with multiple sex offenses and his failure to investigate the facts supporting every potential defense of which his client advised him, his failure to contact or subpoena for trial witnesses who could have provided testimony useful to the defense, and his failure to advise his client that he had a constitutional right to testify on his own behalf, in violation of Maryland Rules of Professional Conduct, Rules 1.1, 1.3 and 1.4(a)(2).
LEATHERMAN, Jennifer L. - Indefinite Suspension by Consent on August 25, 2009 by the Court of Appeals for failure to place unearned fees into an escrow account and for commingling of unearned fees in her operating account.
HARFORD COUNTY
HOLMES, Stephen John - Disbarred by Consent on September 1, 2009 for misappropriation of client funds, in violation of Maryland Rules of Professional Conduct, Rules 8.4(c) and (d), 16-607 and 16-609, and Md. Bus. Occ. & Prof. Code Ann., §10-306.
SIEJACK, Richard T. - Commission Reprimand for engaging in professional misconduct, in violation of Maryland Rules of Professional Conduct, Rules 1.3, 1.4, 1.15(d) and 8.1(b); failure to be fully attentive to various client matters and engaging in conduct in violation of Rules 1.3 and 1.4; failure to respond in a timely manner to the requests of several clients for an accounting of their funds (generally fees paid in advance) as required by Rule 1.15(d); and failure, in varying degrees, to respond promptly or at all to Bar Counsel’s lawful demand for information, as required by Rule 8.1(b).
TULLEY, Harold Joseph - Disbarred by Consent on September 1, 2009 by the Court of Appeals for filing a perjurious affidavit and failure to exercise diligence in representing bankruptcy clients. On October 15, 2007, he was indicted by a Harford County grand jury in a 21-count indictment, alleging theft, conspiracy to commit theft and accessory after-the-fact to theft. Pursuant to a plea agreement in that matter on August 17, 2009 the State entered a nolle prosequi of the charges in return for his agreement to consent to disbarment. His conduct violated the Maryland Rules of Professional Conduct, Rules 1.1, 1.2(a), 1.3, 1.4(a)(2) and (a)(3), 1.15, 3.3(a) and 8.4(b), (c) and (d); Maryland Rule of Procedure 16-604; and Md. Bus. Occ. & Prof. Code Ann., §10-304.
HOWARD COUNTY
STROUSE, James C. - Reprimand by Consent on September 15, 2009 by the Court of Appeals for lack of competence in preparing a power of attorney for an elderly client, naming a long-time client as the attorney-in-fact and thereafter suing the elderly client on behalf of the long-time client, in violation of Maryland Rules of Professional Conduct, Rules 1.1 and 8.4(d).
MONTGOMERY COUNTY
CINQUEGRANI, Peter Joseph - Disbarred on October 2, 2009 by the Court of Appeals for violation of Maryland Rules of Professional Conduct, Rule 8.4(b) and (c). This was a reciprocal disciplinary matter arising from Respondent’s disbarment in the District of Columbia.
GARCIA, Jose Expedito M. - Disbarred on August 28, 2009 by the Court of Appeals as a result of his conviction of immigration fraud.
HOSTAGE, Christopher A. - Commission Reprimand for engaging in professional misconduct in violation of Maryland Rules of Professional Conduct (MRPC), Rule 8.4(a). While representing a client, he sent a letter to a third-party threatening criminal prosecution unless she contacted him to discuss terms of an agreement to settle his client’s alleged criminal and civil claims(s) against her. He claimed he had “already met” with the local Sheriff’s department and an Assistant State’s Attorney and “they agreed to pursue charges against you”, which were false statements of material fact. He acknowledges that he wrote and sent the letter to the client’s ex-wife in haste without giving proper consideration to its accuracy or to the propriety of sending such a letter. His conduct specifically violated MRPC Rules 4.1(a)(1) and 4.4(a).
MIRSKY, Steven E. - Commission Reprimand for placing an earned fee in his attorney trust account, in violation of the Maryland Rules of Professional Conduct, Rules 1.15(b) and 16-607. He also engaged in the practice of law after being decertified by the Court of Appeals for failure to file his pro bono report, in violation of Rule 5.5.
PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY
JOHNSON, Renard D. - Disbarred on July 21, 2009 by the Court of Appeals in his management capacity at a title company he owned, and was found to have facilitated a fraudulent, equity-stripping transaction, violating fiduciary obligations to the mortgage lender and to the sellers of the property, in violation of Maryland Rules of Professional Conduct, Rules 1.15(b)[now (d)], 8.4(a) and (c), 5.1(c) and 5.3(c).
KAPINUS, Bert W. - Commission Reprimand for engaging in professional misconduct in connection with his handling of a client’s slip-and-fall personal injury case. He failed to provide competent representation, did not act with reasonable diligence and promptness in representing the client and failed to communicate adequately with the client, in violation of Maryland Rules of Professional Conduct, Rules 1.1, 1.3 and 1.4.
RUDDY, JOSEPH CORNELIUS, JR. - Reprimand on October 6, 2009 by the Court of Appeals, for violation of Maryland Rules of Profession Conduction, Rules 1.3, 1.7 and 3.3. Respondent failed to make arrangements for the payment of interest on a debt he owed a deceased aunt’s estate after he became personal representative of and attorney for the estate. The $95,000 loan made years earlier, was documented by a promissory note signed as part of a 2001 Conditional Diversion Agreement and provided for the loan to be payable, without interest, 120 days after the aunt’s death. Four months after her death, Respondent opened his aunt’s estate and based upon a telephone conversation with Bar Counsel, came to believe he had the “blessing” of the Attorney Grievance Commission not to pay the principal, without incurring interest on the debt, until he concluded administration of the estate and could write-off the debt as an offset to his testamentary legacy. His conversation with Bar Counsel was treated as a mitigating factor with respect to the Rule 1.7 violation. The Court of Appeals overruled exceptions filed as to several other findings and conclusions, including, significantly, Rules 1.3 and 3.3.
TYNES, Erika A. - Disbarred by Consent on September 2, 2009 by the Court of Appeals, effective thirty (30) days after the date of the Order. This case was in public charges following revocation of a Conditional Diversion Agreement and Supplemental Conditional Diversion Agreement (the CDAs) previously approved. The basis of the revocation was due to her additional professional misconduct while subject to the CDAs, which included misrepresentations to a client about a court date, creating a counterfeit hearing notice faxed to a client and misrepresentations to Bar Counsel. Her conduct violated Maryland Rules of Professional Conduct, Rules 1.4, 8.1(a) and 8.4(a), (c) & (d).
WICOMICO COUNTY
McBROOM, Wayne Isaiah - Disbarred by Consent on August 10, 2009 by the Court of Appeals for failure to provide competent representation, failure to act with reasonable diligence, failure to communicate with his clients, failure to safeguard his clients’ property, failure to refund to his client the unearned portion of his retainer and misrepresentation to the court concerning refunding his fee to his client, in violation of Maryland Rules of Professional Conduct, Rules 1.1, 1.3, 1.4, 1.15, 1.16, 3.3 and 8.4(b), (c) and (d). He also pled guilty to violating Criminal Law, §7-104 of the Annotated Code of Maryland for theft under $500.
OUT OF STATE
LEE, Garrett Lamont - Disbarred on October 7, 2009, effective immediately, by the Court of Appeals, as reciprocal discipline corresponding to his disbarment by consent, in the District of Columbia. The Respondent’s Affidavit of Consent in the District of Columbia is under Seal. The Respondent failed to respond to the Court’s Show Cause Order and did not appear at oral arguments scheduled on October 6, 2009, resulting in issuance of the Court’s Order the next day.
NEEB, Kimberly Ann - Suspended for One year, One day, effective October 2, 2009 by the Court of Appeals, for violation of Maryland Rules of Professional Conduct, Rule 8.4(b), based upon a reciprocal disciplinary matter arising from Respondent’s suspension in the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, and is subject to the reinstatement of Respondent to the Pennsylvania Bar by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania.
PURCELL, Will - Disbarred on July 21, 2009 by the Court of Appeals as the settlement agent for the specific real estate transaction at issue, and was found to have facilitated a fraudulent, equity-stripping transaction, violating fiduciary obligations to the mortgage lender and to the sellers of the property, in violation of Maryland Rules of Professional Conduct, Rules 1.15(b)[now (d)], 8.4(a) and (c), 5.1(c) and 5.3(c).