Opinion ID: 2360393
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Complaint of James Owens

Text: Mr. Owens's complaint stems from the purchase of property in Baltimore City at a tax sale for $3,346.88. In December, 2002, Mr. Owens met with and retained respondent to represent him in securing a deed to the property. Mr. Owens paid respondent a total of $2,000, which included an agreed upon fee of $1,100 plus additional expenses. It was Mr. Owens's understanding from respondent that the deed would be completed within six months to a year. Shortly after their initial meeting, respondent filed in the Circuit Court for Baltimore City a Complaint and Affidavit to foreclose the right of redemption on the property. Between May, 2003 and March, 2004, respondent filed an original Affidavit of Compliance and three amended affidavits. In October, 2004, after Mr. Owens had not received the deed from respondent, and the owner of record, against whom respondent was supposed to foreclose the rights of redemption, received a delinquent tax notice, Mr. Owens went to the Baltimore City Circuit Court Clerk's office and discovered that an ejectment action had been filed by a third party. After Mr. Owens attempted to contact respondent on several occasions, to no avail, he filed a complaint with the AGC. Upon a second request, respondent answered the complaint, in which he claimed that the delay was not his fault because he had filed the proper paperwork with the Circuit Court for Baltimore City. He contended that the delay was due to the Clerk's Office and the Chambers of Master Susan Marzetta. Upon investigation, Bar Counsel determined that respondent had failed to provide a forty year chain of title, including a list of creditors, proof of service and a certificate under affidavit. Bar Counsel charged respondent with violating MLRPC 1.1, 1.3, 8.1(a) and 8.4(c) and (d). The hearing judge concluded that respondent violated only MLRPC 1.3, by failing to pursue a foreclosure of the owner's right of redemption in that an insufficient affidavit of compliance was filed. We will sustain Bar Counsel's exceptions to the hearing judge's failure to find respondent in violation of MLRPC 8.1(a), 8.4(c) and 8.4(d). Indeed, her conclusions of law support Bar Counsel's exceptions: On May 28, 2003, Respondent filed a Complaint and Affidavit to foreclose the right of redemption on the property located at 116 N. Glover St. This Complaint was forwarded to Master Susan Marzetta. Master Marzetta notified Respondent of the deficiencies in his Affidavit of Compliance. Respondent resubmitted an Affidavit of Compliance on August 10, 2003. Master Marzetta advised that this Affidavit was also deficient. On February 1, 2004, a third Affidavit of Compliance was filed which was also deficient. On March 1, 2004, the fourth Affidavit of Compliance was submitted . . . . On November 29, 2004, Petitioner sent to Respondent a second request for response within seven days. . . . Respondent alleged that the delay in processing was caused by the Baltimore City Clerk's Office and the Chambers of Master Susan Marzetta. Respondent stated he had filed the necessary paperwork with the Court and he was awaiting the Court's Order. An investigation conducted by Sterling Fletcher, investigator for Petitioner, determined that Respondent failed to provide a certificate under affidavit, a forty year chain of title including a list of creditors, and the original green cards of service. It is clear from the findings of fact that Master Marzetta informed respondent of the required information needed in order for the court to approve the submitted affidavits. Respondent represented that he had complied with the court's instructions, but upon further investigation, it seems clear that he failed to do so. Accordingly, we find that the hearing judge erred in not concluding that respondent had violated MLRPC 8.1(a), 8.4(c) and 8.4(d).