Source: http://www.law.cornell.edu/ethics/nm/narr/NM_NARR_1_16.htm
Timestamp: 2014-12-26 02:38:02
Document Index: 587423842

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 31', '§ 32', '§ 9', '§ 31', '§ 32', '§ 9', '§ 9', '§ 31', '§ 32', '§ 9', '§ 31', '§ 31', '§ 9']

1.16 Rule 1.16 Declining
1.16:100 Comparative
Analysis of New Mexico Rule
Primary New Mexico References: NM Rule 16-116
Secondary New Mexico
Reference: Comment to NMR 16-102 (see Appendix attached)
Background References: ABA Model Rule 1.16,
Commentary: New Mexico Commentary: “A. Mandatory disqualification. Except as
stated in Paragraph C, a lawyer shall not represent a client or, where
representation has commenced, shall withdraw from the representation of a
(1) the representation will result
in violation of the Rules of Professional Conduct or other law;
(2) the lawyer's physical or mental
condition materially impairs the lawyer's ability to represent the client; or
B. Permissive withdrawal. Except as
stated in Paragraph C, a lawyer may withdraw from representing a client if:
(1) withdrawal can be accomplished without
material adverse effect on the interests of the client;
(2) the client persists in a course of action
involving the lawyer's services that the lawyer reasonably believes is criminal
or fraudulent;
(3) the client has used the
lawyer's services to perpetrate a crime or fraud;
(4) the client insists upon taking
action that the lawyer considers repugnant or with which the lawyer has a
fundamental disagreement;
(5) the client fails substantially
to fulfill an obligation to the lawyer regarding the lawyer's services and has
been given reasonable warning that the lawyer will withdraw unless the
obligation is fulfilled;
(6) the representation will result
in an unreasonable financial burden on the lawyer or has been rendered
unreasonably difficult by the client; or
(7) other good cause for withdrawal
C. Representation required. A lawyer
must comply with applicable law requiring notice to or permission of a tribunal
when terminating a representation. When ordered to do so by a tribunal, a
lawyer shall continue representation notwithstanding good cause for terminating
D. Orderly termination. Upon
termination of representation, a lawyer shall take steps to the extent
reasonably practicable to protect a client's interest, such as giving
reasonable notice to the client, allowing time for employment of other counsel,
surrendering papers and property to which the client is entitled and refunding
any advance payment of fee or expense that has not been earned or incurred. The lawyer may retain papers relating to the client to the extent permitted by
other law.”
1.16:101 Model
are no material differences between NMR 16-116 and MR 1.16.
1.16:102 Model
close equivalent to NMR 16-116 is in the Code at DR 2-110. This provision generally contains the same requirements and objectives as NMR 16-116, and similarly contains subsections governing permissive withdrawal and mandatory withdrawal.
Variances from NMR 16-115 include DR 2-110(B)(1)(a),
which states that a lawyer must withdraw if "he knows or it is obvious that his
client is bringing the legal action, conducting the defense, or asserting a
position in the litigation, or is otherwise having steps taken for him, merely
for the purpose of harassing or maliciously injuring any person;" and DR 2-110(C)(1)(a), which states that a lawyer may withdraw if his
client "insists upon presenting a claim or defense that is not warranted under
existing law and cannot be supported by good faith argument for an extension,
modification, or reversal of existing law." See also EC 2-30, EC 2-31,
EC 2-32, DR 2-103(E), DR 2-104(A), DR 2-109(A), and EC
1.16:200 Mandatory
Primary New Mexico References: NM Rule 16-116(a)
Background References: ABA Model Rule 1.16(a),
Commentary: ABA/BNA § 31:1001, ALI-LGL § 32,
Wolfram § 9.54
New Mexico Commentary: In addition to the text of NMR 16-116, see State Bar Advisory Opinion 1995-1 (withdrawal may be necessary where the
client so greatly limits the representation that the lawyer cannot exercise
professional judgment), and Comments [2] to [5].
1.16.210 Discharge
client has the inherent right to terminate the lawyer; the lawyer should always
counsel the client regarding the consequences of termination. State Bar
Advisory Opinion 1995-1. 1.16:220 Incapacity
NMR 16-116 places a duty on each lawyer
to withdraw from the representation of clients if the lawyer’s physical or
mental health materially impair the lawyer’s ability to represent clients. Matter
of Martin, 127 N.M. 321, 980 P.2d 646 (1999) (stating that if a physical
condition is chronic and materially impairs the lawyer’s ability to represent a
client, the attorney is obligated by NMR 16-116(A) to decline to
represent a potentially new client, or where representation has commenced, to
withdraw from representation, and if the lawyer fails to act appropriately, not
only will the physical condition not be a defense to the charges or a
mitigating factor, it may be part of the proof that ethical violations
occurred); see also Matter of O’Brien, 130 N.M. 643, 29 P.3d 1044
(2001) (NMR 16-116(A) “compels lawyers not to undertake
representation, or, if undertaken, to withdraw from the representation, if the
lawyer’s physical or mental condition materially impairs the lawyer’s ability
to represent the client. Clients cannot be left floundering with no direction
and no communication”).
1.16:230 Withdrawal
to Avoid Unlawful Conduct
addition to the text of NMR 16-116, see State Bar Advisory
Advisory Opinion 1995-1 (lawyer may need to withdraw where a conflict
arises from the client directing the lawyer to accomplish the representation
through means that conflict with the lawyer’s duties to the court or under the
Rules of Professional Conduct); State Bar Advisory Opinion 1989-2 (a
lawyer should withdraw if a client insists upon paying the lawyer with $10,000
or more in cash and not disclosing the transaction to the Internal Revenue
Service, as required by a federal statute); and State Bar Advisory Opinion
1986-10 (a lawyer must withdraw where he acquires information indicating
that his client’s claim would require the use of perjured testimony or false
1.16:240 Legal
Action for the Purpose of Harassing or Maliciously Injuring Any Person
1.16:300 Permissive
Primary New Mexico References: NM Rule 16-116(b)
Background References: ABA Model Rule 1.16(b),
Commentary: ABA/BNA § 31:1101, ALI-LGL § 32,
Wolfram § 9.5.3
New Mexico Commentary: 1.16:310 Withdrawal
to Undertake Adverse Representation
1.16:320 Circumstances
Justifying Discretionary Withdrawal
to NMR 16-116(B), a lawyer may withdraw from representing a client if
withdrawal can be accomplished without material adverse effect on the interests
of a client, and a lawyer shall take steps in terminating to the extent
reasonably practicable to protect the client’s interests. Sanders, Bruin,
Coll & Worley v. McKay Oil Corp., 123 N.M. 457, 943 P.2d 104 (1997); see
also NMR 16-116 Comments [7] to [8].
NMR 16-116 contemplates allowing
attorneys to withdraw if they are not being paid for their services. Corn
v. New Mexico Educators Fed. Credit Union, 119 N.M. 199, 889 P.2d 234 (Ct. App.
1994) (observing counsel may withdraw from representation when it will
result in unreasonable financial burden on lawyer). See also State
Bar Advisory Opinion 1987-9 (a lawyer may withdraw if the client’s failure
to pay is substantial, and the client is warned the lawyer will withdraw unless
the obligations to the lawyer are fulfilled). However, after accepting the
advance payment of a flat fee, a lawyer may not threaten to prejudice a
client’s interests by terminating the representation at a critical stage of the
proceedings to coerce payment of additional fees. Matter of Dawson, 8 P.3d
856, 129 N.M. 369 (2000).
Under NMR 16-116(B), it was appropriate for attorneys to seek permission to
withdraw because the representation would result in an unreasonable financial
burden, but that since withdrawal would have a material adverse effect on the
interest of the client, the proper remedy was a stay of execution. State v.
Young, 2007-NMSC-058, 143 N.M. 1, 172 P.3d 138. In this case, the Supreme
Court reviewed an order denying an interlocutory appeal by capital murder
defendants arguing ineffective assistance of counsel due to the fact that the
Public Defender’s Office had insufficient funding to pay the attorneys and they
believed it would result in a violation of the defendants’ Sixth Amendment right
to effective assistance of counsel. 1.16:400 Order
by Tribunal to Continue Representation
Primary New Mexico References: NM Rule 16-116(c)
Background References: ABA Model Rule 1.16(c),
Wolfram § 9.5.1
New Mexico Commentary: In
litigation, the lawyer must continue representation of the client until
permission to withdraw is received from the court, and if permission is denied,
the lawyer must continue the representation. State Bar Advisory Opinion
1995-1.
1.16:500 Mitigating
Harm to Client Upon Withdrawal
Primary New Mexico References: NM Rule 16-116(d)
Background References: ABA Model Rule 1.16(d),
Commentary: ABA/BNA § 31:1201, ALI-LGL §§ 32,
33, Wolfram § 9.5.1
New Mexico Commentary: Numerous
New Mexico cases illustrate the principle that a lawyer must mitigate the harm
to a client upon withdrawal; many of these cases refer to NMR 16-116 in
the context of an attorney discipline proceeding. See, e.g., Matter
of Roth, 105 N.M. 255, 731 P.2d 951 (1987) (attorney neglected matters and
abandoned clients; found that attorney failed to take steps to insure that
interests of client were protected upon withdrawal); Matter of Fandey, 118
N.M. 590, 884 P.2d 481 (1994) (attorney failed to notify client of closing
of his office or termination of representation); Matter of Lally, 126 N.M.
566, 973 P.2d 243 (1999) (attorney neglected matter, then engaged in
deceptive conduct intended to convince client matter was being pursued); Matter
of Quintana, 130 N.M. 627, 29 P.3d 527 (2001) (if an attorney is suspended
or disbarred, the obligations of NMR 17-212 regarding notice to clients,
courts and opposing counsel are activated; failure to comply with these
requirements may constitute a violation of NMR 16-116(D)); and Matter
of Romero, 130 N.M. 190, 22 P.2d 215 (2001) (in taking steps necessary to
protect client’s interests upon withdrawal, lawyer must undertake “reasonable”
measures, which means “the conduct of a reasonably prudent and competent
lawyer” based on an objective standard).
also Matter of Carlton, 128 N.M.
419, 993 P.2d 736 (2000) (noting failure to timely surrender papers and
property to which a client was entitled upon termination); Matter of Lally,
126 N.M. 566, 973 P.2d 243 (1999) (same); Matter of Hamar, 123 N.M. 795,
945 P.2d 1013 (1997) (same); and Matter of Darnell, 123 N.M. 323, 940
P.2d 171 (1997) (same).
addition, suspension from the practice of law involuntarily terminates the
representation, but it does not extinguish the lawyer’s responsibility to
protect client interests. Matter of Quintana, 29 P.3d 527, 130 N.M. 627
(2001), see also NMR 16-116 Comment [9].
1.16:600 Fees
Commentary: ABA/BNA §§ 31:701, 31:1001,
31:1101 , ALI-LGL §§ 31, 40, Wolfram § 9.5
New Mexico Commentary: NMR 16-116(D) requires a lawyer to refund
any advance payment of fees that has not been earned upon termination of
representation. Matter of Dawson, 8 P.3d 856, 129 N.M. 369 (2000) (also
stating that failure to refund the unearned portion of the fee may interfere
with the client’s right to discharge the lawyer under NMR 16-116(A)(3)). A
lawyer may be entitled to fees on a quantum meruit basis where she continues the
representation following refusal to grant permission to withdraw by the court. State Bar Advisory Opinion 1995-1.
1.16:610 Termination
of Lawyer's Authority [see 1.2:270]
See section 1.2:270 supra.