Opinion ID: 1232513
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: count 19keeping client informed and current

Text: ¶ 71. Count 19 alleged a violation of SCR 20:1.4(a). [15] This rule requires that a lawyer keep the client reasonably informed about the status of a matter and promptly comply with reasonable requests for information. ¶ 72. The referee's findings with respect to this count were based on evidence concerning Knickmeier's failure, despite repeated requests from J.R., to inform J.R. about the status of his accounts and to provide J.R. with an accounting of the funds Knickmeier had disbursed from the trust account. The referee observed that approximately two years had elapsed from the time J.R. first made his repeated requests for accountings until Knickmeier finally submitted a statement to J.R. The referee determined that the billing records Knickmeier finally sent to J.R. were substantially late; furthermore, Knickmeier's failure to provide the information J.R. requested was intentional and this, according to the referee, was compounded by the fact that Knickmeier had not maintained regular and current account books.