John Kennedy

DCCA Opinion (August 25, 2022)

Summary: In re John F. Kennedy. Bar No. 413509. August 25, 2022. The D.C. Court of Appeals disbarred Kennedy, nunc pro tunc to May 4, 2021. Kennedy was charged with misconduct arising out of a litigation and settlement of a collective action and his misappropriation of the settlement funds. He represented more than 100 current and former security officers with wage claims against their employer. He settled the case without informing his clients of the settlement terms, misled his clients about the settlement, and kept 67 percent of the settlement for his firm as attorney’s fees without his clients’ knowledge or approval. The court found that Kennedy intentionally and dishonestly misappropriated his clients’ settlement funds and that his conduct violated Rules 1.2(a), 1.4(a), 1.4(b), 1.4(c), 1.5(a), 1.5(b), 1.8(f), 1.15(a), 1.15(c), and 8.4(c).

DCCA Order (May 4, 2021)

Summary: Kennedy was suspended on an interim basis pursuant to D.C. Bar R. XI, § 9(g), pending final action on the Board on Professional Responsibility’s November 16, 2020 recommendation of disbarment.

Board Report and Orders (November 16, 2020)

Summary: In re John F. Kennedy. Bar No. 413509. November 16, 2020. The Board on Professional Responsibility recommended that the D.C. Court of Appeals disbar Kennedy. Kennedy was charged with misconduct arising out of a litigation and settlement of a collective action and his misappropriation of the entrusted settlement funds. He represented more than 100 current and former security officers with wage claims against their employer. He settled the case without informing his clients of the settlement terms, misled his clients about the settlement, and concealed that he took two-thirds of the clients’ settlement for attorney’s fees without the clients’ knowledge or approval. The Board found that Kennedy purposefully and dishonestly misappropriated his clients’ settlement funds and violated Rules 1.2(a), 1.4(a), 1.4(b), 1.4(c), 1.5(b), 1.8(f), and 8.4(c) in Count I and Rules 1.15(a), 1.15(c), and 1.5(a) in Count II.

Hearing Committee Report (July 31, 2019)

Summary: Not yet available.