On Monday, September 25, 2023, the Supreme Court of Maryland issued an order suspending attorney Dana Andrew Paul from practicing law in Maryland for 30 days, based on disciplinary action taken against him in the District of Columbia.
The case is entitled “In the Matter of Dana Andrew Paul,” with case no. 7.
In June 2022, the District of Columbia Office of Disciplinary Counsel instituted proceedings against Paul for improperly disclosing client confidences and filing a retaliatory disciplinary complaint against a former client. After a hearing, a D.C. board recommended Paul receive a 90-day suspension.
However, the D.C. Court of Appeals instead imposed a shorter 30-day suspension. The court found Paul had violated D.C. Rule of Professional Conduct 1.6 by disclosing confidential information about a former client, N.E., in disciplinary complaints he filed against her. While responses to accusations were protected, the court ruled Paul’s complaint against N.E. was retaliatory in nature and not necessary for his defense.
Given the disciplinary action in D.C., Maryland’s Attorney Grievance Commission filed a petition for reciprocal discipline, wherein Paul consented to the imposition of a 30-day suspension. Under Maryland rules, a final adjudication that an attorney has been disciplined in another jurisdiction is conclusive evidence of the misconduct. Unless an exception applies, the disciplinary sanction must be the same as that imposed in the other jurisdiction.
In a September 2023 order, the Maryland Supreme Court accepted the Attorney Grievance Commission’s petition and suspended Paul from practicing law in Maryland for 30 days, effective immediately. The order directed Paul’s name be stricken from the Maryland roll of attorneys.
According to avvo.com, Mr. Paul is a litigation attorney in Greenbelt, Maryland. He acquired his law license in Maryland in 2002.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
