In re Ontell
CourtDistrict of Columbia Court of Appeals
Date FiledSeptember 3, 2026
Docket26-BG-0667
StatusPublished
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Full Opinion
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DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA COURT OF APPEALS
No. 26-BG-0667
IN RE DAVID J. ONTELL, ESQUIRE,
Respondent.
A Member of the Bar of the District
of Columbia Court of Appeals BDN: 26-PD-001
Bar Registration No. 174920 DDN: 2025-D181
BEFORE: Beckwith and Deahl, Associate Judges, and Thompson, Senior Judge.
ORDER
(FILED—September 3, 2026)
On consideration of Disciplinary Counsel’s motion for leave to file under seal
the Board on Professional Responsibility’s lodged petition to indefinitely suspend
respondent from the practice of law based on disability pursuant to D.C. Bar R. XI,
§ 13(a), to which no response was filed, it is
ORDERED that the motion for leave is granted, and the Clerk shall file the
lodged petition, which contains sensitive medical information, under seal. It is
FURTHER ORDERED that the petition is granted, and respondent David J.
Ontell is indefinitely suspended from the practice of law in the District of Columbia
on the grounds of disability, effective immediately, and any pending investigations
or other disciplinary matters against respondent are held in abeyance. See D.C. Bar
R. XI, § 13(g). It is
FURTHER ORDERED that respondent’s attention is drawn to the
requirements of D.C. Bar R. XI, §§ 14 and 16, relating to suspended attorneys, and
the provisions of D.C. Bar R XI, § 14(g), relating to reinstatement. It is
FURTHER ORDERED, sua sponte, that the case number is changed from
No. 26-BS-0667 to No. 26-BG-0667 (as shown in the caption above) to reflect that
No. 26-BG-0667
this matter is no longer “confidential” upon the entry of this order of suspension, see
D.C. Bar R. XI, § 17(b), although the petition will remain under seal as ordered.
PER CURIAM