Pay the Tax, Avoid the Suspension

The extent to which professional discipline is appropriate for private misconduct was addressed in a recent decision of the Maryland Court of Appeals. The attorney had submitted false documents to the Motor Vehicle Administration to avoid paying sales tax and having the car inspected. The attorney also had engaged in practice related lack of diligence in failing to record a deed transferring title to real property. The Court looked to the ABA Standards for Imposing Lawyer Sanctions as well as prior Maryland cases in determining that indefinite suspension was the appropriate discipline. (Mike Frisch)