On Friday, April 18, 2025, the District of Columbia Board on Professional Responsibility Ad Hoc Hearing Committee recommended a 90-day suspension for attorney Workneh Churnet, with 60 days stayed in favor of at least one year of supervised probation, following a negotiated discipline agreement. The recommendation stems from violations of professional conduct rules related to the handling of client funds.

The case is entitled “In the Matter of Workneh Churnet,” with case no. 24-ND-006.

Churnet faced allegations of misconduct, investigated by the Office of Disciplinary Counsel. The allegations centered on violations of Rules 1.15(a) and 1.15(b) of the District of Columbia Rules of Professional Conduct. Rule 1.15(a) pertains to commingling personal and client funds and maintaining complete records of entrusted funds, while Rule 1.15(b) requires client funds to be deposited into an Interest on Lawyers Trust Account (IOLTA).

According to the committee’s findings, Churnet deposited client and third-party funds into his personal and business checking accounts, which also held his funds. In one instance, on July 12, 2021, he deposited a $4,000 settlement check for a client into his personal checking account, which included his Social Security benefits. Similarly, on December 3, 2021, he deposited a $7,500 settlement check for another client into the same account. On March 9, 2023, two checks totaling $14,279 for a third client were deposited into his business checking account.

The committee also noted that Churnet failed to maintain adequate records for his trust account. He made several withdrawals from his IOLTA, ranging from $2,000 to $12,748.34, without documenting the corresponding client matters or purposes. For example, on June 21, 2022, he withdrew $12,748.34, emptying the trust account, and deposited the same amount into his business checking account. Additionally, Churnet did not keep a general ledger or individual client ledgers, and the records he provided were incomplete or inconsistent, complicating the Disciplinary Counsel’s audit.

As part of the negotiated discipline, Churnet admitted to the misconduct and acknowledged he could not successfully defend against the allegations. He agreed to a sanction that includes a 30-day active suspension and probation with conditions. During probation, Churnet must undergo an assessment by the District of Columbia’s Practice Management Advisory Service and follow its recommendations, including oversight by a practice monitor for at least one year. He must also comply with the monitor’s requirements for 12 consecutive months, execute a waiver allowing the monitor to communicate with Disciplinary Counsel, and inform all clients in writing of his probation status. The probation may extend beyond one year if additional time is needed to meet compliance requirements, with a deadline of two years from the court’s final order.

The committee considered aggravating factors, noting that Churnet’s misconduct spanned several years, involved multiple clients, and persisted despite his awareness of trust account rules. In mitigation, Churnet has no prior disciplinary record, took responsibility for his actions, expressed remorse, and cooperated fully with Disciplinary Counsel by providing bank statements and client records.

The Hearing Committee concluded that the proposed sanction is justified. The recommendation awaits a final decision from the District of Columbia Court of Appeals.

The recommendation states:

“For the reasons stated above, it is the recommendation of this Hearing Committee that the negotiated discipline be approved and that the Court impose a ninety-day suspension, with sixty days stayed in favor of at least one year of supervised probation with the following conditions.”

According to Avvo.com, Mr. Churnet is an attorney in Washington, District of Columbia. He acquired his law license in D.C. in 2008.

A copy of the original filing can be found here.