A panel of judges on Thursday approved the suspension of an attorney accused of misappropriating client funds, a decision that gives the D.C. bar's disciplinary office more power to negotiate lesser sanctions instead of disbarment in certain cases.

The D.C. Court of Appeals said a three-year suspension that attorney Paul Mensah negotiated with the D.C. Office of Disciplinary Counsel was justified and not unduly lenient. Mensah did not contest allegations that he misappropriated funds in personal injury and debt collection lawsuits from 2017.