Benjamin Soto

DCCA Opinion (August 3, 2023)

Summary: In re Benjamin M. Soto. Bar No. 453728. August 3, 2023. The D.C. Court of Appeals suspended Soto for six months for violating Rules 8.1(a) (knowingly making a false statement of fact in a disciplinary matter), 8.4(c) (dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation), and 8.4(d) (serious interference with the administration of justice). Soto altered notarized legal documents in a real estate transaction without authorization and filed the altered documents with the Recorder of Deeds. The alterations led to a related probate proceeding in which one of the parties to the transaction was required to explain that the filed document was not the one he signed. Soto then provided a misleading explanation of the transaction during the disciplinary investigation.

Board Report and Orders (August 10, 2022)

Summary: In re Benjamin M. Soto. Bar No. 453728. August 10, 2022. The Board on Professional Responsibility recommended that the D.C. Court of Appeals suspend Soto for six months. These charges arose from Soto’s conduct in directing the alteration of notarized legal documents in a real estate transaction without the knowledge or consent of the notary or the lawyer representing one of the parties, filing them with the Recorder of Deeds, and the subsequent effect of this act on related probate proceedings. Soto also engaged in misconduct during the disciplinary investigation. The Board found that Soto violated Rules 8.1(a) (knowingly making false statement of fact in disciplinary matter), 8.4(c) (dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation), and 8.4(d) (serious interference with the administration of justice).

Hearing Committee Report (January 5, 2022)

Summary: Not yet available.

Answer (December 2, 2020)

Specification of Charges (November 5, 2020)