Archie Rich

DCCA Order (December 1, 2022)

Summary: Not yet available.

DCCA Opinion (January 27, 2022)

Summary: The D.C. Court of Appeals disbarred Rich, with the disbarment stayed in lieu of supervised probation for a period of three years with conditions. The court accepted the Board on Professional Responsibility’s finding that Rich established mitigation evidence pursuant to In re Kersey. Rich stipulated to three counts of misconduct charged by Disciplinary Counsel. In the first count, Rich violated Rules 1.15(a) and 1.15(c) when he recklessly or intentionally misappropriated funds that belonged to medical providers to pay expenses from his operating account, commingled his funds with entrusted funds, and failed to pay funds promptly to medical providers. In the second count, Rich failed to supervise his paralegal, allowing letters, including false statements, to be sent to medical providers in violation of Rules 5.3(a) and 5.3(b). In the third count, Rich violated Rules 1.1(a), 1.1(b), 1.3(a), 1.3(c), 1.4(a), and 1.4(b) when he failed to provide competent representation, did not represent a client with diligence and zeal, allowed a client’s claims to expire, and did not communicate adequately with the client before the expiration of the statute of limitations.

Board Report and Orders (December 8, 2021)

Summary: The Board on Professional Responsibility recommended that the D.C. Court of Appeals disbar Rich, with the disbarment stayed in favor of a three-year period of supervised probation with conditions. The Board agreed with the Hearing Committee that Rich established the mitigation elements pursuant to In re Kersey and adopted the Hearing Committee’s sanction. Rich stipulated to three counts of misconduct charged by Disciplinary Counsel. In the first count, Rich violated Rules 1.15(a) and 1.15(c) when he recklessly or intentionally misappropriated funds that belonged to medical providers to pay expenses from his operating account, commingled his funds with entrusted funds, and failed to pay funds promptly to medical providers. In the second count, Rich failed to supervise his paralegal, allowing letters, including false statements, to be sent to medical providers in violation of Rules 5.3(a) and 5.3(b). In the third count, Rich violated Rules 1.1(a), 1.1(b), 1.3(a), 1.3(c), 1.4(a), and 1.4(b) when he failed to provide competent representation, did not represent a client with diligence and zeal, allowed a client’s claims to expire, and did not communicate adequately with the client before the expiration of the statute of limitations.

Hearing Committee Report (May 20, 2020)

Summary: Not yet available.