Attorney Grievance v. Culberson

Summary

The Supreme Court of Maryland upheld the hearing judge’s findings that Wendy Barrow Culberson committed multiple professional-conduct and attorney-trust-account violations by misappropriating her client’s funds, charging unreasonable fees, engaging in self-dealing, failing to maintain required records, and making intentional misrepresentations during the disciplinary investigation. The Court found the factual findings supported by clear and convincing evidence, reviewed the legal conclusions de novo, upheld the discovery sanctions, and imposed disbarment. The Court also concluded that Culberson’s failure to participate in the evidentiary proceeding prevented her from establishing additional mitigating factors.