Wendell Robinson

DCCA Opinion (December 19, 1990)

Summary: The court has disbarred Robinson for conduct involving misappropriation and intentional dishonesty.

Board Report and Orders (April 17, 1989)

Summary: In this matter the majority of the board has recommended disbarment for violations involving both misappropriation and intentional dishonesty. Two members of the board, while agreeing that disbarment is the appropriate basic sanction, concluded that mitigation factors support a recommendation that all but six months of the normal five-year suspension for disbarment should be stayed and that Robinson should be placed on probation for a period of two years. Taking issue with the majority's interpretation of applicable prior precedents and disagreeing with a number of factual findings of the majority as contrary to the decisions of the hearing committee, one member recommended a two-year suspension. Robinson was found to have cashed a check payable to himself and the client, retaining the client's portion for a period of approximately three weeks. During this period of time Robinson issued a check for $480 to the client for the client's share, which was twice dishonored for lack of funds. Robinson issued the checks, telling the client that he had not been able to get to the bank to get a money order and assuring the client that the account contained sufficient funds to cover the check. Bank records and Robinson's testimony at the hearing showed that earlier that day Robinson had gone to his bank and withdrawn $75 of the approximately $79 that was then in the account.