Opinion ID: 6351477
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Charge II: [C]

Text: On July 17,1978, respondent was appointed master in divorce in the case of [C] v. [D] (March Term, 1978, No. [ ]) in the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County. The case was the first contested divorce case in which respondent served as master. Between May 3, 1979 and October 30, 1979, respondent conducted hearings in the aforesaid divorce action. Subsequent to that latter date, respondent failed and neglected to render a master’s report in said cause or take any action in the matter. Two attorneys for plaintiff in the divorce action wrote letters to respondent requesting him to take action. These letters went unanswered. Plaintiffs attorney also made numerous phone calls to respondent, leaving messages to which there was no response. By letters dated May 15, 1980, May 30, 1980, June 9, 1980 and June 16, 1980, the Honorable [E], Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of [ ] County and the judge who appointed respondent master in divorce in the aforesaid case, requested respondent to file a status report in the divorce case. Respondent neglected to respond to any of Judge [E’s] letters. In September 1980, upon encountering Judge [E], respondent orally promised to file his master’s report in the case. Respondent never provided counsel or Judge [E] with any reason for his failure to file a master’s report in the divorce case. The divorce action eventually was discontinued and a new proceeding begun.