Weekly Edition

VSB Disciplinary Actions

On July 24, 2008, the Virginia State Bar Disciplinary Board summarily suspended the Virginia law license of Richard A. Counts of Johnson City, Tenn. The suspension was based on a decision by the Supreme Court of Tennessee on April 7, 2008, to suspend Counts’s license in that state for 30 days. The board ordered Counts to appear on Aug. 22, 2008, to show cause why a 30-day suspension should not be imposed in Virginia.

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On July 24, 2008, the VSB Disciplinary Board summarily suspended the law license of Bernadette Wilbon O’Neal of Alexandria. According to the VSB, the suspension was based on a decision by the Maryland Court of Appeals on May 28, 2008, to indefinitely suspend O’Neal’s license to practice law in that state. The board ordered O’Neal to appear on Aug. 22, 2008, to show cause why her Virginia license should not be further suspended.

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On July 24, 2008, the VSB Disciplinary Board summarily suspended the law license of Ronald M. Cohen of Arlington, in response to his June 17, 2008, guilty pleas in Arlington County Circuit Court to counts of Internet solicitation of and attempted indecent liberties with a minor. The board ordered Cohen to appear on Aug. 22, 2008, to show cause why his license should not be further suspended or revoked.

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On Aug. 1, 2008, a three-judge panel of the York County Circuit Court revoked Timothy M. Barrett’s license to practice law, for violating a professional rule that governs meritorious claims and contentions. According to the VSB, Barrett repeatedly made frivolous pro se arguments to the Grayson County Circuit Court and to the Virginia Court of Appeals in arguing that as a noncustodial parent he had no duty to support his minor children. In revoking Barrett’s license, the court considered his record of litigation misconduct, which led to two previous license suspensions.

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On Aug. 1, 2008, the VSB Disciplinary Board summarily suspended the law license of Peter P. Mitrano of Merrifield. According to the VSB, the suspension was based on a decision by the District of Columbia Court of Appeals on July 17, 2008, to disbar Mitrano. The board ordered Mitrano to appear on Aug. 22, 2008, to show cause why his license should not be revoked in Virginia.

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