An attorney with offices in Bethesda and Chevy Chase was disbarred Friday by the Maryland Court of Appeals for several violations regarding his representation of a client.
The court ruled in favor of the Attorney Grievance Commission of Maryland over Andrew Ndubisi Ucheomumu, sole practitioner of the Ucheomumu Law Group LLC, in the case argued Oct. 4, with the motion for disbarment and repayment of costs filed on Friday, according to court documents.
The ruling stems from misconduct by Ucheomumu while representing Shannan Martin in a case before the Court of Special Appeals. Court documents state transcripts of relevant proceedings in the trial court needed to be ordered by a certain deadline in order for an appeal to proceed, and Ucheomumu failed to produce the information in time, even though he requested and received $3,000 from Martin to obtain the documentation.
The Court of Special Appeals ordered Martin to show cause for the failure to file the transcripts, and Ucheomumu filed a motion for an extension on the matter in which he falsely attributed the delay to Martin’s previous counsel not providing the transcripts, per court documents.
Martin terminated Ucheomumu’s representation, but he did not refund the $6,200 she had paid him, according to court documents. Ucheomumu also told Martin she was responsible for the dismissal of the appeal after the court denied the motion for the time extension.
Ucheomumu said Monday he intends to file for a review of the appeals court’s decision with the U.S. Supreme Court. In a written comment he disputed the finding that Martin had to pay for the transcripts and claimed opposing counsel withheld exculpatory documents.
“The opinion on my purported disbarment is 100 percent fabricated lies,” Ucheomumu said. “We should respect the Court, but more importantly, Courts should respect themselves, and this opinion greatly disrespects the Court and its dignity. Courts should never lie or have the appearance of engaging in a shenanigan.”
Ucheomumu’s disbarment was first reported by the Daily Record.
