In re Ephriam C. Ugwonye

District of Columbia Court of Appeals May 2, 2019

In re Ephriam C. Ugwonye, 207 A.3d 173 (D.C. 2019)

Per Curiam

Opinion

Per Curiam:

Concurring in the findings of its Ad Hoc Hearing Committee, the Board on *174 Professional Responsibility recommends that respondent Ephraim C. Ugwuonye be disbarred for his reckless misappropriation of entrusted funds in violation of Rule of Professional Conduct 1.15 (a). 1 Although respondent contended that his misappropriation was negligent rather than reckless, the Board agrees with the Committee's finding of recklessness based on the evidence before it. In brief, the Committee found that in three separate matters, respondent commingled personal and entrusted funds and wrote numerous trust account checks to himself and his firm without proper record-keeping or accounting, resulting in inaccurate and incomplete records and trust account balances that repeatedly fell below the amount of the entrusted funds that should have been maintained. 2 Given its finding that respondent's misappropriation was reckless, the Board's recommended sanction of disbarment is the presumptively mandatory disposition. 3

Under D.C. Bar R. XI, § 9 (h)(2), "if no exceptions are filed to the Board's report, the [c]ourt will enter an order imposing the discipline recommended by the Board upon the expiration of the time permitted for filing exceptions." See also In re Viehe , 762 A.2d 542 , 543 (D.C. 2000) ("When ... there are no exceptions to the Board's report and recommendation, our deferential standard of review becomes even more deferential."). Respondent requested and received numerous extensions of time to file exceptions, but he has not filed any. We are satisfied that the record supports the determination that respondent engaged in reckless misappropriation of entrusted funds. We accept the recommendation that respondent be disbarred.

Accordingly, it is

ORDERED that respondent Ephraim C. Ugwuonye is hereby disbarred. We direct respondent's attention to his obligation under D.C. Bar R. XI, § 14 (g), to file a compliant affidavit; any delay in filing that affidavit will delay respondent's eligibility to apply for reinstatement, as set forth in D.C. Bar R. XI, § 16 (c).

In addition to its finding of reckless misappropriation in violation of Rule 1.15 (a), the Committee found that respondent violated Rules 1.4 (b), 1.5 (a) & (b), and 1.15 (b). We note that respondent previously was suspended in a separate, reciprocal discipline matter for a period of 90 days. See In re Ephraim Ugwuonye , 959 A.2d 732 (D.C. 2008). He has yet to file a complete D.C. Bar R. XI, § 14 (g) affidavit as required in that matter.

See, e.g. In re Pleshaw, 2 A.3d 169 , 173 (D.C. 2010) (to prove reckless misappropriation of entrusted funds the facts must establish either an intent to use entrusted funds for one's own use or a conscious indifference to protecting entrusted funds).

See, e.g., In re Addams , 579 A.2d 190 (D.C. 1990) (en banc) (disbarment the presumptive discipline for all but negligent misappropriation).

Reference

Full Case Name: In RE Ephraim C. UGWUONYE, Respondent. a Suspended Member of the Bar of the District of Columbia Court of Appeals (Bar Registration No. 474318)
Status: Published