Matter of Member of the Bar: Vavala, III

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IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE IN THE MATTER OF A MEMBER OF THE BAR OF THE SUPREME COURT OF DELAWARE: DONALD C. VAVALA, III, Respondent. § § No. 21, 2019 § § Board Case No. 113845-B § § § Submitted: February 3, 2019 Decided: March 14, 2019 Before STRINE, Chief Justice; VALIHURA and SEITZ, Justices. ORDER It appears to the Court that: (1) This is a lawyer disciplinary proceeding. On January 14, 2019, a panel of the Board on Professional Responsibility (“the Board”) filed its Report with this Court, recommending that the respondent, Donald C. Vavala, III, be suspended from the practice of law in Delaware for a period of 15 months, retroactive to the date of Vavala’s interim suspension on May 3, 2018. Neither the Office of Disciplinary Counsel (“ODC”) nor Vavala has filed any objections to the Board’s report. (2) The Court has considered the matter carefully. Vavala admitted the ethical violations alleged in the ODC’s petition against him. The Board carefully considered Vavala’s ethical violations, his knowing state of mind, the potential injury and actual injury, the presumptive sanction, and all of the applicable aggravating and mitigating factors. Under the circumstances, we find the Board’s recommendation of a 15-month suspension to be appropriate. We therefore accept the Board’s findings and recommendation for discipline. NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS ORDERED that the Board’s Report filed on January 14, 2019 (attached hereto) is ACCEPTED. Donald C. Vavala, III is hereby SUSPENDED from the practice of law in Delaware for a period of 15 months beginning May 3, 2018. Vavala shall pay the cost of the disciplinary proceedings. The Office of Disciplinary Counsel shall disseminate this Order in accordance with Rule 14 of the Delaware Lawyers’ Rules of Disciplinary Procedure. BY THE COURT: /s/ Leo E. Strine, Jr. Chief Justice 2

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