In re: Bruce W. Haupt
Annotate this Case
Download PDF
Notice: This opinion is subject to formal revision before publication in the Atlantic and Maryland Reporters. Users are requested to notify the Clerk of the Court of any formal errors so that corrections may be made before the bound volumes go to press. DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA COURT OF APPEALS No. 01-BG-731 IN RE BRUCE W. HAUPT, RESPONDENT. On Petition for Reinstatement to the Bar of the District of Columbia Court of Appeals (Argued April 11, 2002 Decided June 6, 2002) John O. Iweanoge for petitioner. Steven G. Polin filed a brief for petitioner. Ross T. Dicker, Assistant Bar Counsel, with whom Joyce E. Peters, Bar Counsel, was on the brief, for respondent, the Office of Bar Counsel. Before STEADMAN and REID, Associate Judges, and BELSON, Senior Judge. PER CURIAM: Petitioner was admitted to the Maryland and District of Columbia Bars in 1973. Thereafter, he was the subject of several disciplinary proceedings1 until ultimately, in 1982, this court disbarred petitioner from the practice of law. In re Haupt, 444 A.2d 317 (D.C. 1982) (per curiam) (Haupt IV). On December 23, 1998 petitioner filed his sixth petition for reinstatement.2 After an extensive hearing, a unanimous Hearing Committee in a twenty-nine page report 1 See Montgomery County Bar Ass n, Inc. v. Haupt, 353 A.2d 629 (Md. 1976) (per curiam) (Haupt I); Atty Grievance Comm n of Md. v. Haupt, 399 A.2d 1350 (Md. 1979) (per curiam) (Haupt II); In re Haupt, 422 A.2d 768 (D.C. 1980) (per curiam) (Haupt III). 2 The Board denied petitioner s first petition for failure of proof. Four subsequent petitions were denied without a hearing for failure to allege facts sufficient to warrant reinstatement. 2 rejected the petition on the grounds that petitioner had failed to prove by clear and convincing evidence that he satisfied the five criteria for reinstatement outlined in In re Roundtree, 503 A.2d 1215, 1217 (D.C. 1985). The Hearing Committee Report was incorporated and unanimously adopted by the Board on Professional Responsibility.3 Petitioner noted before us his exception to the Board s recommendation that his petition for reinstatement be denied. Although the ultimate decision on whether an attorney is reinstated is ours alone, the Board s findings or recommendations in this regard are entitled to great weight. In re Borders, 665 A.2d 1381 (D.C. 1995) (citations omitted). Petitioner before us essentially reprises the arguments made to and rejected by the Hearing Committee and the Board. The Hearing Committee held an extensive hearing in which petitioner and others testified.4 The Board quite rightly characterized the Committee s report as doing a thorough and careful job of analyzing the evidence before it. Each of the Roundtree factors was discussed at length. Among other matters, the Committee, as did the Board, noted petitioner s refusal to reimburse the Client Security Fund for payments made to wronged clients, questionable conduct relating to certain recent legal proceedings in which he or a member of his family was involved, and general downplaying of culpability for the conduct for which he was sanctioned. We 3 In reinstatement matters, the Board should defer to the Hearing Committee's findings of fact where supported by substantial evidence on the record as a whole. In re Roxborough, 775 A.2d 1063, 1076 (2001) (citations omitted). 4 Given the fact that the Hearing Committee had the opportunity to observe the respondent while considering the plausibility of his testimony, its determinations are afforded great weight. In re Borders, 665 A.2d 1381, 1381-82 (D.C. 1985). 3 see no basis not to accept the recommendation that the instant request of petitioner for reinstatement be denied. So ordered.
Some case metadata and case summaries were written with the help of AI, which can produce inaccuracies. You should read the full case before relying on it for legal research purposes.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
