ATTORNEY GRIEVANCE COMMISSION OF MARYLAND v. GEORGE JACOB GEESING | a Maryland attorney who “robosigned” a large number of documents in foreclosure filings
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF MARYLAND
Misc. Docket AG No. 36 September Term, 2012 ______________________________________ ATTORNEY GRIEVANCE COMMISSION OF MARYLAND v. GEORGE JACOB GEESING ______________________________________ Barbera, C.J., Harrell Battaglia Greene Adkins McDonald Watts, JJ. ______________________________________ Opinion by Watts, J., Adkins, J., concurs and dissents. ______________________________________ Filed: December 3, 2013 This attorney discipline proceeding concerns a Maryland attorney who “robosigned” a large number of documents in foreclosure filings.1 George Jacob Geesing (“Geesing”), Respondent, a member of the Bar of Maryland, routinely authorized two non-lawyer members of the staff of what is now BWW Law Group, LLC (“BWW Law”) to sign his name on documents–including affidavits–in foreclosure filings. Geesing instructed the staff members (who were also notaries public) to notarize the affidavits, even though he had not signed them. After learning of allegations that the affidavits had been falsely notarized, Geesing reported himself to the Attorney Grievance Commission of Maryland (“the Commission”), Petitioner. On September 6, 2012, in this Court, Bar Counsel filed a “Petition for Disciplinary or Remedial Action” against Geesing, charging him with violating Maryland Lawyers’ Rules of Professional Conduct (“MLRPC”) 3.3 (Candor Toward the Tribunal), 5.1 (Responsibilities of Partners, Managers, and Supervisory Lawyers), 5.3 (Responsibilities Regarding Nonlawyer Assistants), and 8.4 (Misconduct). [...]