Facts: Our client, DK, who is a certified public accountant, hired us to defend him against a complaint filed with the Board by a former client who claimed he would not communicate with him to aid in the resolution of tax issues created by DK. DK was facing a serious threat to his professional reputation, harm to his ability to obtain work from clients, the prospect of discipline from the Board as well as harm to his livelihood based on spurious claims by a former client.
Outcome: Bertolino LLP collected and assessed DK’s work file and voluminous communications documentation to undercut the false allegations made against him. We also obtained affidavit testimony from necessary witnesses. Bertolino LLP advocated aggressively for DK, urging for the complaint to be dismissed because it lacked merit. We communicated to Board staff why DK had not violated state law and why the complaint had to be dismissed. After the investigation by the Board’s Behavioral Enforcement Committee was completed, the Committee recommended the complaint be dismissed because there was inadequate evidence to support disciplinary action. The Board dismissed DK’s complaint in full and took no discipline against him whatsoever. As a result, DK’s professional reputation and livelihood were protected from a groundless complaint.
