Opinion ID: 1377729
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Count VJames Sterling

Text: The complainant, James Sterling, hired Keenan to represent him in an uncontested divorce. The final hearing before the divorce was held on January 11, 1996, and Keenan was instructed by the family law master to prepare the final order. Keenan later testified before the Board that he did prepare the divorce order, and that he provided it to the law master. According to Keenan, the law master apparently misplaced the order. Unfortunately Keenan could not prove that there was an order because he had not made a copy. When Mr. Sterling did not receive his final divorce order by June of 1996, he went to the courthouse, and was informed that the order had not been entered. Between June and November of 1996, Mr. Sterling called Keenan's office several times to ask about the order, but was unable to talk to Keenan. Mr. Sterling filed an ethics complaint against Keenan on December 3, 1996. A copy of the complaint was forwarded to Keenan by the ODC on December 9, 1996, with instructions to respond to the complaint within 10 days. Keenan did not respond to the complaint. On March 3, 1997, a second request for a response to the ethics complaint was sent to Keenan by the ODC. Keenan responded to the second request on March 12, 1997. Keenan also prepared a final divorce order for Mr. Sterling and submitted it to the family law master on March 12, 1997. The Board charged Keenan with violating Rule 1.3 [12] for failing to act with diligence, and Rule 8.1(b) [13] for failing to respond to the Disciplinary Counsel as requested. Keenan stipulated to the charges made by the Board.