Contingent fee contract draws discipline

Judges spell out language for disclaimer on lawyer’s blog

By Deborah Elkins
Published: July 17, 2012
Tags: Lawyer Discipline

A three-judge panel has spelled out disclaimer language a Richmond lawyer must use when he blogs about his cases, in its final order in the case of Virginia State Bar v. Horace Hunter. The judges ordered Hunter to add the following words to his website: “Case results depend upon a variety of factors unique to [...]

Lawyer disciplined for 60-second call

By Peter Vieth
Published: June 29, 2012
Tags: Lawyer Discipline, Virginia State Bar

A defense lawyer has been disciplined by the Virginia State Bar for a one-minute phone call from a misguided plaintiff in a medical malpractice case.

Panel disciplines Fairfax prosecutor

By Peter Vieth
Published: June 4, 2012
Tags: Fairfax County Circuit Court, Judge David Stanford Schell, Lawyer Discipline, Virginia State Bar

A Fairfax County prosecutor has been disciplined by a three-judge panel for allowing co-defendant witnesses to lie in a criminal trial. In the discipline case against Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Mark J. Sullivan, the Virginia State Bar asked for a three-month suspension of Sullivan’s law license. The judges opted for the lesser punishment of a public [...]

Reston lawyer’s license revoked

By Peter Vieth
Published: May 16, 2012
Tags: Lawyer Discipline, Virginia State Bar

A Virginia State Bar discipline panel last month yanked the license of a Reston lawyer based on allegations of “gross incompetence, utter lack of diligence, and dishonesty.” A VSB lawyer argued Thomas J. Sehler was “not fit to practice law” and his continued practice posed “an imminent danger to the public.” The VSB urged the [...]

Ex-lawyer is convicted for phony documents

By Peter Vieth
Published: March 21, 2012
Tags: Federal Courts, Judge Henry E. Hudson, Lawyer Discipline, Virginia State Bar

A former Richmond lawyer dodged nine federal fraud charges in a jury trial last month, only to be convicted of submitting false documents to support his defense. Bradley D. Wein fought accusations that he committed mail fraud when he made personal purchases with credit cards belonging to an elderly client. He argued the client had [...]

Harsh and abusive behavior earn lawyer 3-year suspension

By Peter Vieth
Published: March 7, 2012
Tags: Lawyer Discipline, Virginia State Bar

Findings of harsh and abusive litigation behavior, a series of intentional misrepresentations to judges and conflicts of interest led to a three-year suspension for a Virginia lawyer last month. Jason Roper, formerly of Virginia Beach, said he is appealing the disciplinary action by the Virginia State Bar Disciplinary Board. On Feb. 28, the Supreme Court [...]

Bar disciplinary staff is being more aggressive

By Peter Vieth
Published: March 2, 2012
Tags: Lawyer Discipline, Virginia State Bar

The Virginia State Bar is getting more aggressive and moving more quickly in the prosecution of lawyers accused of misconduct. The number of active cases over a year old has dropped about 15 percent since the prior fiscal year, compared to last year, according to Bar Counsel Edward L. Davis. There were 197 district committee [...]

Lawyer mismanaged assets, is convicted of embezzlement

By Peter Vieth
Published: February 16, 2012
Tags: Alexandria Circuit Court, Elder Law, Fairfax County Circuit Court, Judge Gerald Bruce Lee, Judge Robert J. Smith, Lawyer Discipline, Virginia State Bar

A Falls Church lawyer has been convicted of embezzlement after being ordered to reimburse more than $275,000 in excess fees she charged for management of an elderly couple’s assets, according the Virginia State Bar and court records. A 2009 report by the Fairfax County commissioner of accounts found Erin Weber Anderson, now known as Erin [...]

Patent lawyer suspended, no Virginia ticket

By Peter Vieth
Published: February 3, 2012
Tags: Lawyer Discipline, Virginia State Bar

Even though she has never been licensed by the Virginia State Bar, a Williamsburg patent lawyer has been suspended from performing any legal work in the state for two years. A three-judge circuit court panel last month approved a two-year suspension of Bambi Faivre Walters for unauthorized practice of law and misuse of client money, [...]