Rule 17-305. Abatement of investigation.

A. Failure to prosecute; effect of. Neither unwillingness nor neglect of the complainant to sign a complaint or to prosecute a charge, nor settlement, compromise or restitution, shall, in itself, justify abatement of an investigation into the conduct of an attorney. B. Other proceedings; effect of. Similarity of the substance of complaints to the material allegations of pending criminal or civil litigation shall not of itself prevent or delay disciplinary action against the attorney involved in such litigation, except to the extent provided in Rule 17-207. The acquittal of the respondent-attorney on criminal charges, or a verdict or judgment in his favor in civil litigation involving material allegations similar in substance to complaints for disciplinary action, shall not in and of itself justify abatement of a disciplinary investigation predicated upon the same or substantially the same material allegations.