On Thursday, January 19, 2023, the District of Columbia Court of Appeals ordered the indefinite suspension of Washington Attorney Gary T. Brown based on disability.
The case titled In Re Gary T. Brown, Esquire was brought by the Disciplinary Counsel under Case No. 2018-D284.
The Board on Professional Responsibility filed before the Court a consent petition to suspend Brown based on the latter’s disability pursuant to D.C. Bar R. XI, § 13(c), which states:
If the Board has reason to believe that an attorney is incapacitated from continuing to practice law because of mental infirmity or illness or because of addiction to drugs or intoxicants, the Board may petition the Court to determine whether the attorney is so incapacitated. Upon the filing of the Board’s petition, the Court may take or direct such action as it deems appropriate, including the examination of the attorney by such qualified medical expert or experts as it shall designate. If the Court concludes that the attorney is incapacitated from continuing to practice law, it shall enter an order suspending the attorney on the ground of such disability for an indefinite period, effective immediately and until further order of the Court, and any pending disciplinary proceeding against the attorney shall be held in abeyance.
Accordingly, the Court ruled in favor of the Board’s petition and suspended Brown indefinitely.
The Order reads in part:
“ORDERED that effective immediately, respondent is indefinitely suspended from the practice of law based on disability, and any pending disciplinary matters be held in abeyance pursuant to D.C. Bar R. XI, § 13(g).”
Brown was ordered to file an affidavit in compliance with D.C. Bar R. XI, § 14(g), with the Court and the Board, and to serve a copy of the affidavit on Disciplinary Counsel.
The Order provided for the appointment of McGavock D. Reed, Jr. to take inventory of the files of Brown, to make appropriate disposition of such files, and to take any other appropriate action to ensure continuity of the representation for the respondent’s clients.
If Reed agrees to the appointment he shall file with the Board written acceptance of his appointment. He shall provide to the Board a written estimate of the number of hours necessary to complete the inventory and distribution of the client flies, and he shall submit to the Executive Attorney monthly statements of the time spent and expenses incurred in carrying out his appointment.
Prior to the suspension, Mr. Gary T. Brown practiced in Washington, District of Columbia. According to Avvo, Brown is the director and founder of the law firm Gary T. Brown & Associates. He obtained his Juris Doctor degree from Saint Louis University School of Law, graduating in 1976. He had been admitted to practice in the District of Columbia, with license no. 246314.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
