Tax Lien Auction Price Fixing Draws Disbarment

 The Maryland Court of Appelas has disbarred an attorney convicted of an offense described by Bar Counsel:

Respondent stands convicted of a ‘serious crime’ as that term is defined in Maryland Rule 16-701 (k). He engaged in an illegal combination and conspiracy ‘to suppress and eliminate competition by submitting noncompetitive and collusive bids’ at tax lien auctions in various Maryland jurisdictions, leading to his conviction in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland of violating Section 1 of the federal Sherman Antitrust Act, 15 U. S. C. § 1. … Respondent’s actions while participating in the illegal combination and conspiracy constituted professional misconduct proscribed by Rule 8.4 of the Maryland Lawyers’ Rules of Professional Conduct, including sections (b), ( c) and (d) of that rule. …

The court concluded that the  conduct involved the sort of dishonesty for which disbarment is the appropriate sanction. (Mike Frisch)