Opinion ID: 1347088
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: Charles Evans, D.C.

Text: Hardison represented one of Dr. Evans' patients, Mrs. Jennings, in a personal injury action. Mrs. Jennings and Hardison signed a doctor's lien, which gave Dr. Evans a lien for medical fees on any settlement arising from the accident. Dr. Evans billed for services in the amount of $225.50. However, when Hardison sent Dr. Evans a check on June 5, 1995, it was for the amount of $150.33, which represented payment in full less 33 1/3 attorney fee for collecting said amount. Dr. Evans requested complete payment of the bill. Hardison ultimately paid the $75.00 originally withheld. By letter dated July 11, 1995, disciplinary counsel requested that Hardison respond to Dr. Evans' complaint, which he failed to do. Hardison states that it was his practice to give his clients the 33 1/3 percent withheld from the doctors' fees as a collection fee, which he did in this case. He was of the opinion that he could charge for collecting monies for medical providers. Nonetheless, he paid Dr. Evans the $75.00. The Board found the initial withholding of a portion of Dr. Evans' fees was inappropriate, but Hardison ultimately paid the entire fee and his conduct did not rise to the level of a violation of Rule 1.15(b) (Safekeeping property), Rule 4.1(a) (Truthfulness in statements to others) or Rule 8.1(b) (Bar admission and disciplinary matters) of the Rules of Professional Conduct. Rule 4.1(a) states, In the course of representing a client a lawyer shall not knowingly: (a) make a false statement of material fact or law to a third person[.] Rule 8.1(b) states: [A] lawyer ... in connection with a disciplinary matter, shall not: (b) fail to disclose a fact necessary to correct a misapprehension known by the person to have arisen in the matter, or knowingly fail to respond to a lawful demand for information from an admissions or disciplinary authority, except that this rule does not require disclosure of information otherwise protected by Rule 1.6. The Board recommended dismissal of these charges. ODC contests this finding.