Opinion ID: 1696746
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 13

Heading: Testimony of Lil Lalumandier

Text: Ms. Lalumandier testified she had over twenty years of experience as a legal assistant when she went to work for respondent. She stated she was initially only responsible for the supervision of the law clerks and the drafting of pleadings. Ms. Lalumandier maintained she ultimately became office manager in 1995, making her responsible for all financial, business and personnel affairs, while she also ran the litigation and non-litigation sections of the firm. She asserted respondent's basic function was to bring in new business into the office, attend depositions and occasionally try cases. Ms. Lalumandier testified, during respondent's absences from the office, she had full responsibility for every aspect of the practicei.e., personnel and financial matters, case acquisition, management and settlements. She alleged the office operated in the same manner as it was conducted when respondent was present. With regard to litigation files, Ms. Lalumandier indicated respondent would not have anything to do with a file unless he had to make an appearance. She alleged, during the last three years of her employment with respondent, he did not see petitions before they were filed, and that all discovery was stamped by other persons. She noted that Ms. LeBleau would execute anything that needed to be signed in original since her signature was closest to that of respondent. Ms. Lalumandier testified they went to great lengths to settle cases so petitions would not have to be filed, which she claims they successfully accomplished from 1995 to 1998 since respondent had only ten trials in that time. As to the non-litigation matters, Ms. Lalumandier corroborated Ms. LeBleau's testimony that respondent had absolutely nothing to do with the files, and would be irritated if he were consulted on such. [13] She testified that she never requested Mr. Shipp's assistance on any non-litigation files, but occasionally asked that he cover a deposition or court appearance that could not be rescheduled in respondent's absence. [14] She stated she was responsible for all settlement negotiations with the insurance carriers and their attorneys and that, when she deemed acceptable settlement terms were reached, she would contact the client and get the client's approval of the settlement. Ms. Lalumandier testified that the adjusters knew she was not a lawyer and that she, in her own mind, did not feel that she was practicing law. Regarding the parameters for settling litigation cases, Ms. Lalumandier maintained that she did all of her own quantum research and came up with the amount to be demanded in each case, often seeking counsel from other adjusters she befriended. She contended respondent was not involved in this process unless there was a specific problem with a particular client. Ms. Lalumandier alleged her performance was measured on how many cases she had settled and how much money was brought in. She testified the largest case she settled was for $162,000, involving a cervical disc injury, and that she settled several cases for as much as $100,000 to $150,000 without any input from respondent. As to the Chinn matter, she stated that she was present when respondent stated he did not want to notify his malpractice carrier of his actions relative to the dismissal of the case since it would cost him a $5,000 deductible. She stated that, during the last month that she worked for respondent, the Chinns called several times regarding the status of their case. Ms. Lalumandier contended she left her employment with respondent because it became stressful to operate respondent's practice when he was disinterested in the practice of law and tried to limit the work on his part to bringing in clients. [15]