44ag/11 - Maryland Courts

Gerald Frederick Chapman, Respondent, was admitted to the Bar of this Court on May
24, 1979. On October 25, 2011, the Attorney Grievance Commission (“Bar Counsel”),
acting pursuant to Maryland Rule 16-751(a), 1 filed a “Petition for Disciplinary or Remedial
Action” against Chapman, which incorporated two separate complaints filed by Ms. Barbara
Bogarosh and Mr. John Butler. The factual bases of these charges arose out of Chapman’s
consulting agreement with James Weiskerger to perform loan-modification work through
Chapman’s law firm, Chapman Law Group, LLC. Through this arrangement, Bar Counsel
alleged, Chapman cloaked JW Capital, Mr. Weiskerger’s loan-modification business, with
the authority of Chapman’s law firm. Further, Bar Counsel alleged that Chapman’s conduct
“operated to misrepresent and mislead clients into believing they engaged the services of a
law firm, rather than an unlicenced foreclosure consultant.” Chapman was charged with
violations of the Maryland Lawyers’ Rules of Professional Conduct, Rules 1.1
(Competence), 2
1
Rule 16-751(a) provides, in relevant part:
(a) Commencement of disciplinary or remedial action.
(1) Upon approval or direction of Commission. Upon
approval or direction of the [Attorney Grievance]
Commission, Bar Counsel shall file a Petition for
Disciplinary or Remedial Action in the Court of Appeals.
2
Rule 1.1 provides:
A lawyer shall provide competent representation to a client.
Competent representation requires the legal knowledge, skill,
thoroughness and preparation reasonably necessary for the
representation.
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