People v. Derrick Duane Cornejo. 13PDJ066. July 30, 2014. Following a hearing, the Hearing Board suspended Derrick Duane Cornejo (Attorney Registration Number 29438) for eighteen months. The suspension takes effect July 23, 2015.
Cornejo was suspended from the practice of law on February 24, 2012, for failing to communicate with clients and for failing to diligently pursue matters. He was reinstated to the practice of law on November 29, 2012. From August 2012 to October 2012, however, Respondent, while working under the supervision of a licensed attorney, knowingly violated his disciplinary order of suspension by negotiating a fee agreement, offering legal advice to clients, and holding himself out as authorized to practice law in Colorado in violation of Colo. RPC 3.4(c) (a lawyer shall not disobey an obligation under the rules of a tribunal), 5.5(a)(1) (a lawyer shall not practice law in this jurisdiction without a valid license to practice law), and 8.4(c) (a lawyer shall not engage in dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation).
The Hearing Board could not find by clear and convincing evidence, however, that Cornejo threatened disciplinary charges against another attorney in order to obtain an advantage in a civil matter, thereby prejudicing the administration of justice in violation of Colo. RPC 4.5(a) and 8.4(d), as the People had alleged. The Hearing Board’s opinion and decision was affirmed by the Colorado Supreme Court on June 23, 2015.