Opinion ID: 1124445
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The Scofield Matter

Text: On August 16, 1994, Jerald D. Scofield hired the respondent for advice regarding a child abuse investigation involving Scofield's three-year-old son and visitation issues raised by the investigation. The boy was conceived after Scofield's marriage with the mother had been dissolved. The respondent filed an action for the determination of a parent-child relationship between Scofield and the boy. On September 27, 1994, Scofield's ex-wife filed a response admitting paternity, conceding that Scofield was entitled to parenting time, and asking for child support. On November 19, 1994, after he could not get the respondent to return his telephone calls about the status of his case, Scofield hired another lawyer. The same day, Scofield faxed the respondent a letter firing him and requesting a refund of his unused advance fee, which according to the respondent's last billing, amounted to $902. After repeated requests by Scofield's new lawyer, the respondent finally provided an accounting of his services dated December 7, 1994. The statement indicated a credit balance of $302 due to Scofield, including one hour of the respondent's time spent after he had been discharged. Scofield filed a request for investigation against the respondent in late December. The respondent did not send Scofield his refund because he believed that it was improper to communicate with his ex-client after the request for investigation had been filed. At the suggestion of investigative counsel, however, the respondent sent a check in the amount of $302 to Scofield on May 7, 1995. The Scofields settled the custody and visitation issues by stipulation in January 1995. As he has admitted, the foregoing conduct violated Colo. RPC 1.4(a) (failing to keep a client reasonably informed about the status of a matter); Colo. RPC 1.5(a) (charging an unreasonable fee); and Colo. RPC 1.16(d) (failing to refund unearned fees upon termination of representation).