Matter of Member of the Bar: Vavala, III

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE
IN THE MATTER OF A MEMBER §
OF THE BAR OF THE SUPREME § No. 21, 2019
COURT OF DELAWARE: §
§ Board Case No. 113845-B
DONALD C. VAVALA, III, §
§
Respondent. §
Submitted: February 3, 2019
Decided: March 14, 2019
Before STRINE, Chief Justice; VALIHURA and SEITZ, Justices.
ORDER
It appears to the Court that:
(1) This is a lawyer disciplinary proceeding. On January 14, 2019, a panel
of the Board on Professional Responsibility (“the Board”) filed its Report with this
Court, recommending that the respondent, Donald C. Vavala, III, be suspended from
the practice of law in Delaware for a period of 15 months, retroactive to the date of
Vavala’s interim suspension on May 3, 2018. Neither the Office of Disciplinary
Counsel (“ODC”) nor Vavala has filed any objections to the Board’s report.
(2) The Court has considered the matter carefully. Vavala admitted the
ethical violations alleged in the ODC’s petition against him. The Board carefully
considered Vavala’s ethical violations, his knowing state of mind, the potential
injury and actual injury, the presumptive sanction, and all of the applicable
aggravating and mitigating factors. Under the circumstances, we find the Board’s
recommendation of a 15-month suspension to be appropriate. We therefore accept
the Board’s findings and recommendation for discipline.
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS ORDERED that the Board’s Report filed on
January 14, 2019 (attached hereto) is ACCEPTED. Donald C. Vavala, III is hereby
SUSPENDED from the practice of law in Delaware for a period of 15 months
beginning May 3, 2018. Vavala shall pay the cost of the disciplinary proceedings.
The Office of Disciplinary Counsel shall disseminate this Order in accordance with
Rule 14 of the Delaware Lawyers’ Rules of Disciplinary Procedure.
BY THE COURT:
/s/ Leo E. Strine, Jr.
Chief Justice
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