Opinion ID: 1255297
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: the asbestos case

Text: In June or July 1986, Mr. Hopewell contacted Jenkins seeking representation in a matter where Mr. Hopewell was exposed to asbestos. Jenkins was already representing two of Mr. Hopewell's co-workers who had also been exposed to asbestos. Jenkins agreed to represent Mr. Hopewell in the case, and Mr. Hopewell signed a contingency fee retainer agreement with Jenkins. Jenkins wrote a letter in July 1986 to Steele Memorial Hospital on behalf of Mr. Hopewell and his co-workers, claiming that the three men had been exposed to asbestos while working for the hospital and seeking settlement of the claims. The hospital denied liability for the claims. Jenkins never informed Mr. Hopewell of the result of the letter to the hospital. Mr. Hopewell only learned of the hospital's denial of the asbestos claims in late 1986 or early 1987 from one of his co-workers. Jenkins filed complaints on behalf of Mr. Hopewell's two co-workers, but did not file a complaint for Mr. Hopewell. According to Jenkins, he did not file a complaint in Mr. Hopewell's case because Mr. Hopewell had no physical manifestations of asbestos exposure. However, Jenkins never set up a doctor's appointment for Mr. Hopewell nor did he instruct Mr. Hopewell to set up an examination himself. The Hopewells made numerous telephone calls over the next three years inquiring about the status of the case and about when Jenkins would make arrangements for Mr. Hopewell to see a doctor. Often the Hopewells did not receive responses to their calls and letters. When they did speak with Jenkins, the Hopewells were not given any information about the status of the case. Nothing further was done by Jenkins in pursuit of Mr. Hopewell's asbestos claim. The asbestos case was closed at the JLO in 1989, the exact month is unclear from the record. Mr. Hopewell was never sent a closing letter informing him of the conclusion of the case. Despite the closure of the asbestos file, in November 1989, Jenkins told the Hopewells that the case was without merit and that the JLO could do nothing more for them. With respect to the asbestos case, the hearing committee concluded that Jenkins violated Rules 1.3, 1.4(a), and 1.4(b) of the I.R.P.C. because Jenkins failed to exercise due diligence in handling the case, failed to inform Mr. Hopewell of the status of the asbestos case, failed to comply with reasonable requests for information about the case, failed to explain the asbestos case to Mr. Hopewell, and failed to pursue the case for Mr. Hopewell. The hearing committee found no disciplinary violation committed by Stosich in the asbestos case.