Anthony Rachal

DCCA Opinion (June 10, 2021)

Summary: In re Anthony M. Rachal Ill. Bar No. 229047. June 10, 2021. The D.C. Court of Appeals suspended Rachal for 30 days, stayed in favor of one year of probation. As a condition of probation, Rachal must complete six hours of continuing legal education on professional responsibility, including a course on representing multiple clients in civil cases, approved by Disciplinary Counsel. Three clients retained Rachal to represent them in a probate matter involving disbursement of trust assets. Rachal failed to advise his clients of possible conflicts and possible adverse consequences of the representation. A conflict developed. Taking the side of one client against the other two, Rachal filed a praecipe with the court in which he accused his two clients of making misrepresentations to induce the trustee to disburse trust assets to them, and he asked the court to order those two clients to return the money. Rachal intentionally damaged his clients during the course of the representation in violation of Rule 1.3(b)(2) and engaged in a conflict of interest in violation of Rules 1.7(b)(1), (2), and (3).

Board Report and Orders (July 6, 2017)

Summary: The Board on Professional Responsibility recommends to the Court that Rachal be suspended for three months with reinstatement conditioned upon his completion of six hours of CLE pertaining to conflict of interest. Three clients retained Rachal to represent them in a probate matter involving disbursement of trust assets. Rachal failed to advise his clients of possible conflicts and possible adverse consequences of the representation. A conflict developed. Taking the side of one client against the other two, Rachal filed a praecipe with the court in which he accused his two clients of making misrepresentations to induce the trustee to disburse trust assets to them, and he asked the court to order those two clients to return the money. The Board concluded that Rachal intentionally damaged his clients during the course of the representation, in violation of Rule 1.3(b)(2); and that he engaged in a conflict of interest, in violation of Rules 1.7(b)(1), (2), and (3).

Hearing Committee Report (November 25, 2015)

Summary: Not yet available.