Maryland Attorney Grievance Commission Sanctions List FY25

SANCTIONS AND ACTIONS AFFECTING LICENSURE (FY 2025) ANDERS, Joel William – Commission Reprimand on August 30, 2024, for failing to safekeep funds in an attorney trust account and disbursing funds from an attorney trust account when the disbursement created a negative balance with respect to an individual client matter or all client matters in the aggregate. The Respondent failed to deposit his client’s unearned retainer payments into an attorney trust account and failed to maintain the required trust account ledgers and monthly reconciliations. BAUM, Matthew Adam – Temporary Suspension on February 21, 2025, effective immediately, pending further Order from the Supreme Court of Maryland. COCHRAN, Gill Andrew – Commission Reprimand on January 17, 2025, for failing to abide by the scope of the representation, failing to represent his client diligently, failing to adequately communicate with his client, failing to take steps to protect his client’s interest upon termination of the representation, and engaging in conduct that is prejudicial to the administration of justice. The Respondent was retained to represent a client in a criminal matter and failed to appropriately withdraw from the case. After the client terminated the representation and hired new counsel, the Respondent accepted the State’s plea offer in the case without communicating with the client. COHEN, Nancy Ann – Commission Reprimand on June 30, 2025, for failing to represent her client diligently, failing to adequately communicate with her client, and failing to reasonably expedite litigation. The Respondent failed to draft and submit a settlement agreement in a worker’s compensation case for over two years. DAVIS, Mary Elizabeth – Suspension for thirty days on July 9, 2024, effective nunc pro tunc to July 29, 2023, stayed under the conditions imposed by the Supreme Court of Maryland, in a reciprocal action from the District of Columbia for representing a client involving a conflict of interest and engaging in conduct that is prejudicial to the administration of justice. The Respondent failed to obtain her client’s informed consent regarding a conflict of interest. DAVIS, Philip Allen – Suspension by Consent for 150 days on January 27, 2025, effective immediately, for committing a criminal act that reflects adversely on his honesty, trustworthiness, or fitness as an attorney; engaging in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or Respondent pled guilty to one count of stalking. ELAN, Evan Stuart – Disbarment by Consent on November 25, 2024, effective immediately, in a reciprocal action from Virginia and the District of Columbia, for failing to represent his clients competently and diligently, failing to adequately communicate with his clients, failing to take steps to protect his clients’ interests upon termination of the representation, and engaging in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation. The Respondent abandoned representation of multiple clients. FARRAR, Perneita Montrece – Commission Reprimand on April 24, 2025, for failing to recognize a conflict of interest as a government employee and engaging in conduct that is prejudicial to the administration of justice. While employed by the Baltimore County Office of Law and assigned

to represent the Baltimore County Department of Corrections, the Respondent provided an incarcerated individual with information relating to claims against the detention center. Each time she visited the incarcerated individual at the detention center, the Respondent used her Maryland State Bar card and was permitted a professional legal visit, even though she was not representing him in his criminal matter. FRANKLIN, Jamel R. – Disbarment by Consent on December 23, 2024, effective immediately, for committing a criminal act that reflects adversely on his honesty, trustworthiness, or fitness as an attorney; and engaging in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation. The Respondent pled guilty to one count of perjury in violation of Maryland Code, Criminal Law § 9-101; and one count of theft over $100,000.00 in violation of Maryland Code, Criminal Law § 7-104. GALLAGHER, Michele Yvonne – Indefinite Suspension by Consent on September 23, 2024, effective immediately, with reinstatement conditioned on the satisfactory report of a healthcare professional, for committing a criminal act that reflects adversely on her honesty, trustworthiness, or fitness as an attorney; engaging in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or Respondent entered an Alford Plea to one count of conspiracy to commit second degree assault. GLENN, IV, Robert Edwin – Disbarment by Consent on July 29, 2024, effective immediately, in a reciprocal action from West Virginia, Virginia, and the District of Columbia, for engaging in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation. Over the course of eight years, the Respondent improperly received over $35,000.00 from his former law firm as reimbursement for expenses incurred while representing a client. The Respondent used the funds for personal expenses unrelated to client matters. GORMLEY, Brian R. – Reprimand by Consent on December 19, 2024, for representing clients involving a conflict of interest and failing to uphold his responsibilities as a partner in a law firm. Without the informed consent of each potentially affected client, the Respondent represented clients in a matter where the position to be taken by the clients was adverse to a position taken or to be taken by another client in the same matter, even though the second client was represented by different counsel. The Respondent, as a partner in his law firm, failed to make reasonable efforts to ensure his firm had in effect measures giving reasonable assurance that the conduct of the lawyers in the firm conformed to the Rules of Professional Conduct, specifically by failing to ensure conflicts were screened when opening new cases. GUNDLACH, Phillip L. – Commission Reprimand on July 8, 2024, for failing to adequately communicate with his client, failing to take steps to protect his client’s interest upon termination of the representation, and failing to maintain candor to the tribunal. The Respondent represented a client in a divorce matter and sent correspondence to his client via mail to his home address and via email despite learning his client had become incarcerated. The client, therefore, was not aware of the Respondent’s motion to withdraw his representation. The client received a default judgment as a result of his failure to appear at a court date that occurred while he was incarcerated.

HARDY, II, James Roger – Suspension by Consent for 120 days on July 25, 2024, effective nunc pro tunc to October 25, 2022, in a reciprocal action from Connecticut, for violating the State of Connecticut Rules of Professional Conduct. The Respondent failed to represent his clients diligently; failed to adequately communicate with his clients; collected unreasonable fees; failed to return unearned fees upon the termination of representation; failed to reasonably expedite litigation; engaged in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation; and engaged in conduct that is prejudicial to the administration of justice. The Respondent also attempted to settle a grievance claim with a former client without advising the client in writing of the desirability of seeking the advice of independent legal counsel and providing a reasonable opportunity to seek same. On July 25, 2024, the Supreme Court of Maryland ordered the Respondent’s reinstatement, effective nunc pro tunc to February 23, 2023. HAUFRECT, Mark Stephen – Commission Reprimand on January 29, 2025, for failing to represent his clients competently and diligently and failing to properly supervise non-attorney assistants. The Respondent was a founder of a nonprofit immigration legal services organization. During the course of representing the nonprofit organization’s clients, the Respondent failed to appropriately supervise the organization’s non-attorney staff and failed to provide competent and diligent representation to these clients. IBEBUCHI, Ferdinand Uchechukwu – Commission Reprimand on June 18, 2025, for failing to represent his clients competently and diligently, failing to adequately communicate with his clients, collecting unreasonable fees, and failing to take steps to protect his clients’ interests upon termination of the representation. The Respondent engaged in professional misconduct while representing clients in six individual matters. The Respondent missed or was late for scheduled telephone meetings with a client and asked the client for help editing his draft of her complaint. Another client’s appeal was dismissed twice for the Respondent’s failure to file any brief on her behalf. The Respondent failed to file any opposition to a motion to dismiss another client’s appeal, which resulted in the dismissal of the appeal. The Respondent then failed to take action to assist that client with reinstating the appeal. IGWE, Chukwuemeka Uchenna – Reprimand on January 27, 2025, in a reciprocal action from Pennsylvania for violating the Pennsylvania Rules of Professional Conduct in failing to adequately communicate with his client, collecting unreasonable fees, and engaging in conduct that is prejudicial to the administration of justice. In representing a client in connection with a Special Needs Trust, the Respondent charged an excessive fee, performed minimal work, and failed to adequately explain the matter to the client. JOHNS, Kosmas Nicholas – Commission Reprimand on April 2, 2025, for failing to represent his clients competently and diligently and engaging in conduct that is prejudicial to the administration of justice. The Respondent repeatedly failed to comply with disclosure of compensation requirements in bankruptcy cases in which he was involved as the debtor’s attorney. JOHNSON, Bruce Allen, Jr. – Disbarred on January 27, 2025, effective immediately, in a reciprocal action from the District of Columbia, for failing to safekeep funds in an attorney trust

account. In its Opinion, the District of Columbia Court of Appeals concluded that the Respondent had engaged in the reckless misappropriation of funds. KIM, Weon Geun – Commission Reprimand on May 21, 2025, in a reciprocal action from the Virginia State Bar Disciplinary Board, for failing to safekeep funds in an attorney trust account and commingling funds. The Respondent left personal funds in his trust account, deposited unearned fees into his operating account, and kept clients’ checks for unearned fees in a desk drawer rather than depositing them into his trust account. There was, however, no evidence of misappropriation. KOH, Francis Huisuk – Suspension by Consent for six months on August 27, 2024, effective nunc pro tunc to May 17, 2024, in a reciprocal action from Virginia, for failing to represent his clients competently and diligently; failing to properly supervise a non-attorney assistant; engaging in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation; and engaging in conduct that is prejudicial to the administration of justice. The Respondent failed to provide competent and diligent representation in representing foreign domiciled trademark applicants before the United States Patent and Trademark Office. KURLAND, Sari Karson – Disbarment by Consent on May 21, 2025, effective immediately, for failing to maintain candor to a tribunal; knowingly disobeying obligations under the rules of a tribunal; engaging in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation; and engaging in conduct that is prejudicial to the administration of justice. Bar Counsel filed a Petition for Temporary Restraining Order and Preliminary Injunction against the Respondent that alleged that the Respondent had misappropriated client funds and had violated several of the Maryland Attorneys’ Rules of Professional Conduct. The court granted the Motion for Temporary Restraining Order by consent as to the entry of a preliminary injunction. Bar Counsel filed four separate petitions for contempt, charging that the Respondent had violated the terms of the consent preliminary injunction. The Respondent consented to a finding of contempt of the injunction. Bar Counsel subsequently filed two additional contempt petitions relating to additional conduct violative of the injunction, and the Respondent consented to the entry of a second finding of contempt. LANTON, Ferrial Hussein – Temporary Suspension on March 21, 2025, effective immediately, pending the resolution of the criminal charges against the Respondent in the District of Columbia. MAHONE, Daniel Quinn – Commission Reprimand on April 2, 2025, for failing to represent his client competently and diligently and failing to adequately communicate with his client. The Respondent failed to promptly and timely pursue his client’s civil action in court with correctly named parties or within sufficient time to make necessary amendments. The court denied the Respondent’s motion to amend and granted the proper defendant’s motion to dismiss, citing the incorrect party listed as the defendant and the tolling of the statute of limitations prior to notice upon the proper defendant. MAHONEY, John P. – Suspension by Consent for sixty days on September 25, 2024, effective nunc pro tunc to July 13, 2024, with all but thirty days stayed in favor of one year of probation with the terms imposed by the District of Columbia Court of Appeals, in a reciprocal action from

the District of Columbia, for failing to adequately communicate with his clients, failing to take steps to protect his clients’ interests upon termination of the representation, and failing to properly supervise attorneys. In six client matters, the Respondent failed to take reasonable steps to ensure two subordinate attorneys complied with their ethical duties to clients and failed to take reasonable remedial action to avoid or mitigate the consequences of the subordinates’ conduct. In four of the matters, the Respondent personally failed to respond to his clients’ reasonable requests for information, and in three of the matters, the Respondent personally failed to protect his clients’ interests as the representation was ending. MARSHALL, Brian Keith – Indefinite Suspension by Consent on January 27, 2025, effective immediately, for failing to represent his client competently and diligently, failing to adequately communicate with his client, failing to withdraw from representing his client when discharged, failing to take steps to protect his client’s interest upon termination of the representation, knowingly making false statements to Bar Counsel, and knowingly failing to respond to Bar Counsel. The Respondent failed to respond to his client’s reasonable requests for information about her worker’s compensation case and, after she discharged him, he took no substantial steps to withdraw from her case. MAYERS, Sheila Bridget Thurmond – Temporary Suspension on September 23, 2024, in a reciprocal action from the District of Columbia and Virginia, pending further Order from the Supreme Court of Maryland. O’NEILL, Brian David – Disbarred on September 24, 2024, effective immediately, in a reciprocal action from the District of Columbia, for committing a criminal act that reflects adversely on his honesty, trustworthiness, or fitness as an attorney; engaging in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation; and engaging in conduct that is prejudicial to the administration of justice. In the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, the Respondent pled guilty to two counts of wire fraud. PISNER, Gary – Disbarred on March 5, 2025, effective immediately, for failing to represent his client competently, failing to safekeep unearned funds in a trust account, filing frivolous pleadings, knowingly disobeying obligations under the rules of a tribunal, and engaging in conduct that is prejudicial to the administration of justice. The Respondent’s misconduct arose from his representation of himself in various matters relating to a revocable trust. The Respondent engaged in the intentional misappropriation of trust assets, failed to comply with court orders, and engaged in a persistent pattern of vexatious and frivolous litigation, causing harm to others, and burdening the judicial system. SNYDER, Stephen Lawrence – Temporary Suspension on January 27, 2025, subject to further Order of the Supreme Court of Maryland, following the Respondent’s conviction in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland of one count of attempted extortion and seven counts of violating the Travel Act. SOUTHERLAND, Janel Asheley – Suspension by Consent for thirty days on January 27, 2025, stayed in favor of one year of probation with the terms contained in the Probation Agreement, for failing to safekeep funds in an attorney trust account; and failing to comply with attorney trust

account record-keeping, monthly reconciliation, and prohibited transaction requirements. The Respondent overdrew her attorney trust account and made nine cash withdrawals. Additionally, the Respondent failed to reconcile her trust account and failed to maintain copies of cancelled checks, ledgers, and receipts relating to transactions in her trust account. STEWART, Craig W. – Disbarment by Consent on February 3, 2025, effective immediately, for failing to represent his client diligently; failing to adequately communicate with his client; engaging in the unauthorized practice of law; and engaging in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation. On April 8, 2021, the Respondent had been indefinitely suspended by consent for routinely failing to deposit and maintain unearned fees in his attorney trust account and instead depositing those fees into his operating account. The Respondent knowingly engaged in the practice of law while his license to practice law was suspended. STROUD, Barron LeGrant, Jr. – Temporary Suspension on February 21, 2025, effective immediately, pending further Order from the Supreme Court of Maryland, following referrals from the Child Support Administration regarding the Respondent’s child support arrearages. TINGWEI, Susan Engonwei – Disbarment by Consent on June 27, 2025, effective immediately, for committing a criminal act that reflects adversely on her honesty, trustworthiness, or fitness as an attorney; engaging in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation; and engaging in conduct that is prejudicial to the administration of justice. The Respondent pled guilty to one count of health care fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1347. WALDECK, Robert P. – Disbarred on July 25, 2024, effective immediately, in a reciprocal action from the District of Columbia, for failing to represent his clients diligently; failing to adequately communicate with his clients; failing to safekeep funds in an attorney trust account; failing to take steps to protect his clients’ interests upon termination of the representation; engaging in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation; and engaging in conduct that is prejudicial to the administration of justice. While representing five different clients in employment matters, the Respondent intentionally misappropriated trust funds, commingled client funds with funds in his operating account, recklessly failed to determine the amount held in trust for each client, delayed settlement negotiations, failed to meet litigation deadlines, and abandoned his clients. WALKER, Doris – Commission Reprimand on February 28, 2025, for failing to represent her client diligently, failing to adequately communicate with her client, charging unreasonable fees, failing to take steps to protect her client’s interest upon termination of the representation, failing to reasonably expedite litigation, and engaging in conduct that is prejudicial to the administration of justice. In a personal injury matter, the Respondent failed to provide a draft settlement offer to her client for review and failed to provide any settlement offer to the insurer, despite the Respondent’s assurances that she would do so. Upon termination of the representation, the Respondent refused to provide her client with a copy of her case file and demanded a $2,500.00 payment for its release. The client never received an invoice justifying the requested $2,500.00 and never received a copy of the case file. In addition, the Respondent failed to cooperate with Bar Counsel during the investigation process.

WERSANT, Paul Gerard – Temporary Suspension on February 21, 2025, effective immediately, pending further Order from the Supreme Court of Maryland, based on a reciprocal action from the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Orlando Division, and pending the resolution of criminal charges against the Respondent in the Superior Court of Forsyth County, Georgia. WHITTED, Stephen E. – Indefinite Suspension on August 1, 2024, effective immediately, for filing frivolous pleadings; engaging in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or Respondent repeatedly filed retaliatory, meritless claims against his ex-wife, her new husband, her attorneys, and judges who ruled against him; filed meritless appeals; repeated failed arguments; and ignored court rulings. WOJAHN, Patrick Lewis – Disbarment by Consent on March 21, 2025, effective immediately, for committing criminal acts that reflect adversely on his honesty, trustworthiness, or fitness as an attorney; and engaging in conduct that is prejudicial to the administration of justice. The Respondent pled guilty to 140 counts of possession and distribution of child pornography. YEATMAN, Francis Edward – Disbarred on November 22, 2024, for failing to represent his clients competently and diligently, failing to adequately communicate with his clients, knowingly failing to respond to Bar Counsel, and engaging in conduct that is prejudicial to the administration of justice. The Respondent failed to communicate with, and effectively abandoned, his clients in two separate estate matters. In addition, in connection with Bar Counsel’s investigation, the Respondent failed to respond to requests for information by Bar Counsel.