Opinion ID: 2283496
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: amato complaint

Text: In August 1977, John Amato paid the respondent a retainer of $250 for the purpose of instituting a divorce action. On August 21, 1978 the respondent wrote to the complainant enclosing a copy of a Divorce Complaint and indicated that it had been filed and forwarded for service upon the defendant. Thereafter and for a period of several months the complainant encountered much difficulty in communicating with the respondent concerning the status of his case, as the respondent failed to return most telephone calls and was not available for consultation with the complainant. At a formal hearing before the Committee on September 3, 1980 respondent admitted that he failed to institute suit on behalf of his client. Respondent claimed that he failed to act because he had not had his fee and costs paid in full. The Committee determined that the respondent deliberately failed to truthfully advise the complainant as to the status of his divorce action and improperly and falsely represented that a trial date would be assigned shortly when, in fact, no Complaint was ever filed by the respondent with the Court.