To Coin A Revocation

The Virginia State Bar Disciplinary Board has accepted a consent to license revocation based on the following admitted facts

Respondent represented a client accused of stealing a large quantity of coins from a coin shop in the Town of Vienna of Fairfax County, Virginia. While representing the client, Respondent opened his own coin shop, involving his client as an independent contractor.

Upon executing a search warrant at Respondent’s law office, Vienna town police seized some coins which may have been related to the client’s criminal matter. Nothing among the evidence of the criminal case provided a basis to suggest Respondent knew the coins were stolen or otherwise relevant to the client’s criminal matter Respondent stipulates, however, that his possession of coins and employing a client charged with stealing stolen coins from a coin store during the course of his representation of the client under those circumstances provides clear and convincing evidence of an unethical act, in that it created the appearance of an impropriety and therefore reflects adversely on his fitness to practice law.

Additionally, Respondent purchased coins from his client while representing the client for stealing coins. Although there is nothing to suggest that the coins were stolen coins or that Respondent thought they were stolen, the actions are clear and convincing evidence of an unethical act that created the appearance of an impropriety that reflects adversely on his fitness to practice law.

In his response to the instant bar complaint, Respondent failed to mention that he purchased coins from his client while representing the client for stealing coins. Respondent’s failure to provide this information provides clear and convincing evidence that Respondent failed to disclose a fact necessary to correct a misapprehension known by him, in violation of Rule 8.1 (b ).

(Mike Frisch)