In re Gary S. Pisner

Summary

The District of Columbia Court of Appeals disbarred Gary S. Pisner through reciprocal discipline following his disbarment by the Supreme Court of Maryland. The court conditioned reinstatement in the District of Columbia on reinstatement in Maryland and held that the Maryland proceedings did not present a due process defect or other exception to reciprocal discipline.

Holdings

1. The District of Columbia Court of Appeals imposed reciprocal disbarment on Pisner and conditioned any reinstatement in the District on his reinstatement in Maryland.
2. Pisner did not establish a due-process defect sufficient to bar reciprocal discipline because he had notice of the Maryland proceedings, participated in a two-day evidentiary hearing, and presented his due-process arguments to the Supreme Court of Maryland.
3. The approximately 130-day gap did not constitute a serious defect in the Maryland disciplinary proceedings because the explanatory opinion did not change the substance or outcome of the disbarment order.
4. Pisner was not entitled to relitigate or collaterally attack the findings or judgment in the Maryland disciplinary proceeding.
5. For purposes of reinstatement, Pisner's disbarment period does not begin to run until he files an affidavit fully complying with D.C. Bar R. XI, § 14(g).

Questions Presented

1. Whether reciprocal disbarment should be imposed in the District of Columbia after the Supreme Court of Maryland issued a final disbarment order.
2. Whether Pisner established good cause to delay the reciprocal-discipline proceeding or an exception barring imposition of reciprocal discipline.
3. Whether the approximately 130-day gap between Maryland's disbarment order and the opinion explaining the reasons for disbarment constituted a serious procedural defect.
4. Whether Pisner could relitigate or collaterally attack the findings or judgment from the Maryland disciplinary proceeding.
5. When Pisner's District of Columbia disbarment period should begin to run.

Disposition

other