Special-education lawyer is charged with operating without a license

Sharon Cheich and her husband, Ronald, paid Howard D. Deiner more than $15,000 and lost their case against the Arlington schools. (John Mcdonnell/the Washington Post)

Howard D. Deiner, who represented the families of numerous students with special needs in and around Washington, D.C., was not licensed as a lawyer for much of the time he represented those families, court records show. Deiner allegedly lost numerous cases because of poor preparation or incomplete work. Deiner -- who faces criminal charges, civil penalties and 74 misconduct charges from the D.C. bar association -- has not commented on the allegations and is still representing families during internal school hearings in Virginia, which he is legally allowed to do. The Washington Post