Lawyer suspended in Virginia is disbarred in Maryland

A Virginia lawyer who received a six-month suspension in Virginia last year for dropping the ball on a business client had his license revoked altogether by corresponding authorities in Maryland.

One reason given was the failure of David P. Buehler to reveal the Virginia sanction to the Maryland Attorney Grievance Commission.

Buehler’s actions amounted to a “pattern of misconduct” that warranted disbarment, according to the Maryland Court of Appeals. The actions cited included misrepresentations to courts, failure to appear at scheduled court proceedings and failing to notify regulators of discipline imposed in another jurisdiction.

Buehler ran afoul of the Virginia State Bar with his representation of Norfolk restaurateur Jill Sozio whose eatery was facing eviction in 2011.

Buehler filed two actions. In one, he asked a judge to allow access so Sozio could retrieve her personal property from the site. In the other, he sought damages of more than $1.5 million for breach of lease and wrongful eviction.

Buehler then failed to appear at a hearing on a motion to dismiss the injunction case, ignored opposing counsel’s efforts to set a trial in the damages case, failed to show at a hearing in the eviction action and falsely claimed he did not receive notice of scheduled hearings, according to VSB findings.

The VSB Disciplinary Board imposed the six-month suspension on Feb. 21 of last year.

Buehler did not attend when the Maryland Court of Appeals heard arguments on his reciprocal discipline action in December. The court’s disbarment opinion was issued last month.

“Buehler, on more than one occasion, failed to attend hearings and conferences and later attempted to undo that ethical lapse by claiming that he had no knowledge of their existence,” wrote Judge Sally D. Adkins for the Maryland court.

“This pattern of misconduct when viewed in the context of Buehler’s other violations warrants disbarment,” Adkins said.

Buehler did not respond to a phone call seeking comment, according to The (Maryland) Daily Record, which originally reported this story.