Johnnie Louis Johnson

DCCA Opinion (May 26, 2022)

Summary: The D.C. Court of Appeals disbarred Johnson and conditioned reinstatement on full restitution of $19,350.21 to the Clients’ Security Fund. While retained to represent a client in a workers’ compensation claim against the D.C. government, Johnson failed to explain to his client the law regarding legal fee recovery in his matter, took an illegal and unreasonable fee in violation of D.C. Rule 1.5(a), and sought an additional $40,324.66 in a falsely inflated fee petition. Johnson knowingly made false or deceptively incomplete statements to the administrative law judge (ALJ) in defense of his fee petition, engaged in dishonesty to the ALJ about entries on his fee petition and dishonesty to successor counsel and Disciplinary Counsel, made misstatements and evasive responses to Disciplinary Counsel about the fee during the disciplinary investigation, and engaged in misconduct that resulted in additional workers’ compensation proceedings before the ALJ. In addition, Johnson gave intentionally false testimony during the disciplinary hearing. (Rules 1.4(b), 1.5(a), 3.3(a)(1), 8.4(c), 8.1(b), and 8.4(d).)

DCCA Order (July 2, 2019)

Summary: Johnson 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 March 25, 2019, recommendation of disbarment.

Board Report and Orders (March 25, 2019)

Summary: The Board on Professional Responsibility recommends that the D.C. Court of Appeals disbar Johnson, and that he be required to pay restitution to the client in the amount of $19,350.21, plus interest accrued at the legal rate on that amount since July 28, 2014, as a condition of reinstatement. In the event a suspension, rather than disbarment is imposed, the Board recommends that Johnson be required to prove his fitness. While retained to represent a client in a workers’ compensation claim against the D.C. government, Johnson failed to explain to his client the law regarding legal fee recovery in his workers’ compensation matter; took an illegal and unreasonable fee in violation of D.C. Code and by seeking an additional $40,324.66 in a falsely inflated fee petition; knowingly made false or deceptively incomplete statements to the ALJ in defense of his fee petition; engaged in dishonesty to the ALJ about entries on his fee petition, and dishonesty to successor counsel and Disciplinary Counsel; made misstatements and evasive responses to Disciplinary Counsel about the fee during the disciplinary investigation; and engaged in misconduct that resulted in additional workers’ compensation proceedings before the ALJ. In addition, Johnson gave intentionally false testimony during the disciplinary hearing. (Rules 1.4(b), 1.5(a), 3.3(a)(1), 8.4(c), 8.1(b), and 8.4(d))

Hearing Committee Report (July 31, 2018)

Summary: Not yet available.