In re Post , 1999 D.C. App. LEXIS 232 ( 1999 )


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  • PER CURIAM:

    On June 9,1998, the Court of Appeals of Maryland (“the Maryland court”) suspended respondent Alan F. Post from the practice of law for an indefinite period, with the right to apply for reinstatement after thirty days. This suspension was based on respondent’s failure to file timely certain withholding income tax returns and his failure to remit timely the taxes withheld from his employees’ wages. Attorney Grievance Comm’n v. Post, 350 Md. 85, 710 A.2d 935 (1998).

    In a separate proceeding, respondent acknowledged violating Rule 1.15 of the Maryland Rules of Professional Conduct by placing disputed funds in a non-escrow account. As a sanction for this misconduct, the Court of Appeals of Maryland extended, by an additional sixty days, the period of time before which respondent could seek reinstatement in the prior disciplinary case. In the interim, respondent was reciprocally suspended by the United States District Court for the District of Columbia and the United States District Court for the District of Maryland.

    Bar Counsel filed with this court certified copies of each of the disciplinary orders. On September 23, 1998, this court temporarily suspended respondent under *282D.C. Bar Rule XI, § 11(d), and referred the matter to the Board on Professional Responsibility (“the Board”). Respondent did not fully comply with the requirements of D .C. Bar Rule XI, § 14, until February 16, 1999.1 On February 25, 1999, this court granted respondent’s motion to lift the temporary suspension.

    The Board has recommended reciprocal discipline in the form of a ninety-day suspension, which it considers functionally identical to the discipline imposed by the Maryland court. The Board further recommends that this suspension be imposed nunc pro tunc to the date on which respondent fully complied with Rule XI, § 14. Bar Counsel has informed the court that he takes no exception to the Board’s report and recommendation. Respondent has not filed any opposition to the Board’s report and recommendation.

    Given our limited scope of review and the presumption in favor of identical reciprocal discipline, we adopt the Board’s recommendation. See In re Goldsborough, 654 A.2d 1285 (D.C.1995); In re Zilberberg, 612 A.2d 832, 834 (D.C.1992). Accordingly, it is

    ORDERED that Alan F. Post be, and he hereby is, suspended from the practice of law in the District of Columbia for a period of ninety days, nunc pro tunc to February 16, 1999. We note that respondent was serving his temporary suspension from February 16 to February 25, 1999, and therefore those nine days shall be credited toward his ninety-day suspension.

    . The Board appears to have overlooked respondent’s February 16, 1999, filing, and thus it considers respondent not to have fulfilled his duties under D.C. Bar Rule XI, § 14, until February 23, 1999. However, the February 23 filing was only a supplement to respondent's February 16 filing, and the February 16 filing satisfied the requirements of Rule XI, § 14.

Document Info

Docket Number: No. 98-BG-1383

Citation Numbers: 738 A.2d 281, 1999 D.C. App. LEXIS 232, 1999 WL 812940

Judges: Newman, Reid, Terry

Filed Date: 10/7/1999

Precedential Status: Precedential

Modified Date: 10/26/2024