Opinion ID: 2039059
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: matter of g.s.

Text: ¶ 16. The complaint alleged and the referee found that G.S. retained Goldstein to represent her in two separate personal injury claims relating to two accidents that allegedly occurred on February 22, 1990, and August 30, 1992, respectively. ¶ 17. With respect to the February 1990 claim, Attorney Goldstein did not file a lawsuit within the applicable statute of limitations, and he failed to inform G.S. of this fact. Attorney Goldstein did file a lawsuit regarding the August 1992 accident. However, he then failed to respond to interrogatories served upon him, or otherwise prosecute the case, despite an order from the court directing him to do so. Eventually, the defendants moved to dismiss the action with prejudice, and sought costs and attorney fees. Attorney Goldstein did not object and the lawsuit was dismissed, with prejudice. The court awarded costs and attorney fees to the defendant, but Attorney Goldstein did not advise G.S. of the motion to dismiss, or of the ensuing judgment for costs and attorney fees. ¶ 18. We recognize, as did the referee, that some mitigating circumstances existed here. Attorney Goldstein admits that he failed to file the 1990 personal injury claim and admits further that he does not recall the specific reasons for that omission. However, he defends his subsequent failure to communicate with his client, explaining that he made several attempts to reach her, without success. Moreover, it appears that the client did not try to contact him either, for a period of more than a year. Attorney Goldstein maintains that under those circumstances, it was reasonable for him to assume the client did not wish to proceed with her case. In addition, the record reflects that Attorney Goldstein had concerns about the merits of both cases, which presumably influenced his decision not to file the first lawsuit and his willingness to accede to the dismissal of the second lawsuit. ¶ 19. Nonetheless, the referee expressed concern that Attorney Goldstein could offer no written evidence of any attempts to communicate with [G.S.] in relation to either of the actions. Id. at 16. The referee explained: There is no written evidence of any attempts to reach [G.S.], explain the status of either case to her, explain the applicable statute of limitations to her, or to communicate the motion for dismissal of the 1992 action to her. Id. The referee was also concerned that Attorney Goldstein made no effort to avoid the dismissal with prejudice, or to avoid the imposition of costs and sanctions on his client. Id. at 16. ¶ 20. On balance, the referee concluded that by failing to respond to interrogatories submitted concerning the 1992 accident claim, by failing to otherwise prosecute this claim, and by failing to attempt to resolve the litigation without prejudice, or the imposition of costs or attorney fees, Attorney Goldstein failed to act with reasonable diligence and promptness in representing a client, in violation of SCR 20:1.3. ¶ 21. In addition, by failing to inform G.S. that he would not file a lawsuit in connection with her 1990 claim, and by failing to inform G.S. that a motion to dismiss her 1992 claim had been filed, and that the court subsequently dismissed the claim with prejudice and awarded costs and attorney fees, Attorney Goldstein failed to keep a client reasonably informed of the status of a matter, in violation of SCR 20:1.4(a). ¶ 22. Finally, the referee concluded that by failing to inform his client that he did not believe either of her cases had merit and by failing to explain her options with regard to the motion to dismiss, Attorney Goldstein failed to explain matters to the extent reasonably necessary to permit a client to make informed decisions regarding the representation, in violation of SCR 20:1.4(b). ¶ 23. We agree that the referee's findings of fact with respect to this matter constitute sufficient factual findings to support the conclusion that Attorney Goldstein violated SCR 20:1.3, 20:1.4(a), and 20:1.4(b).