Virginia State Bar's tragic case of Robert Eisen

The complaint case of Attorney Robert Dean Eisen disregarded by the Virginia State Bar led to his destruction

The Virginia State Bar's constant protection of attorneys leads to the destruction of the public's welfare and attorneys.

Robert Eisen's final disciplinary action by the VSB was taken on January 22, 2004, in which his license to practice law was revoked. In the news article dated September 2006, Robert Eisen describes his tragic demise by his drug addiction over two decades. 

Williamsburg Health Journal Robert Eisen

If the VSB had not covered up a complaint about Robert Eisen in 1982, the future for this aspiring attorney could have been better.

Below is the summary of the original complaint:

1982 - Complaint was filed - Eisen had been recorded on a police wire receiving cocaine in payment of his legal fee for representing the same guy on distributing cocaine.

1982 - VSB Bar Counsel Michael L. Rigsby instructed the VSB prosecutor to NOT set up the case for investigation by the VSB or the District Committee.

1982 - The VSB prosecutor called the Committee Chairman and told him to send them a letter instructing them to set up the case for investigation and refer it to the District Committee.

1982 - The Chairman sent that letter and the VSB prosecutor set up the case and referred it to the District Committee for investigation without Rigsby's knowledge.

1982 - Rigsby found out from our joint secretary and for once went ballistic, but he could not undo the referral to the District Committee.

1982 - 1983 Rigsby wanted the VSB prosecutor to recommend that the District Committee dismiss the case, but the VSB prosecutor refused to do it.

1983 The case finally came up to the VSB Disciplinary Board for trial (DB Hearing).

1983 At the time of the Disciplinary Board Hearing, Rigsby wanted the VSB prosecutor to ask the Board to dismiss the case, and the VSB prosecutor did not tell Rigsby anything was going to take place at the Hearing. 

1983 At the DB Hearing, the VSB prosecutor asked for  a long Suspension or Disbarment.  The DB gave Eisen only a Private Reprimand because he was Well-Connected to a prominent lawyer, Andrew Sacks, by marriage to that lawyer's daughter, Paula Sacks Eisen. Andrew Sacks was Robert Dean Eisen's father-in-law and that was the reason the VSB wanted the case covered up.

Andrew Sacks testifying at the Disciplinary Board Hearing in 1983 for Robert Eisen as a character witness because Eisen was married to his daughter.

Robert Eisen did not get rehabilitation, counselling, monitoring or anything as "Terms" that the DB could have imposed on him to try to reverse his cocaine habit.

Michael L. Rigsby

More complaints were filed against Robert Eisen in the 90's but they were buried by Michael Rigsby.

On December 18, 2002:     *

Robert Dean Eisen, 142 West York Street, Suite 718, Norfolk, Virginia 23510-2015
VSB Docket No. 03-000-1717
The Virginia State Bar Disciplinary Board suspended Robert Dean Eisen's license to practice law based on a disability. The action was by agreement of the bar, Mr. Eisen, his attorney, and his guardian ad litem. The suspension will remain in effect until further order of the board.

*On September 4, 2003, the Virginia State Bar Disciplinary Board lifted the Impairment Suspension.

Less than  6 months later, on January 22, 2004, the VSB Disciplinary Board conducted hearings against:

ROBERT DEAN EISEN

VSB DOCKET NUMBERS: 01-022-0845;

01-022-1356;

01-022-2414;

02-022-1800;

02-022-3844;

and 02-022-4096.

ORDER OF REVOCATION

On January 22, 2004, a hearing was convened before a

duly appointed panel of the Board, consisting of Roscoe B.

Stephenson, Chair, Robert E. Eicher, Joseph R. Lassiter, W.

Jefferson O’Flaherty (lay member), and Janipher W. Robinson.

See the full hearings, pages 2-6. Eisner revocation hearings

There are hundreds if not thousands of similar cases that have ended tragically for both lawyers and the public, which could have been avoided if the Virginia State Board would uphold their duty to their office instead of the "Good old boy system".