Opinion ID: 2372280
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: The Westcotts' Grievance

Text: ¶ 9 The grievance by the Westcotts arises from services allegedly provided by Wingo and the Jeff Martin Research Center to David A. Westcott and his parents, Wayman and Jean Westcott (Westcotts). Wingo met David Westcott while they were both incarcerated in the same federal prison. Based upon Wingo's representations, the Westcotts agreed to hire him upon his release from prison to assist David Westcott in the filing of a request for postconviction relief and a petition for writ of certiorari from the United States Supreme Court. From January of 2006 through April of 2007 the Westcotts paid Wingo approximately $19,000 for services he claimed to be performing. They initially paid Wingo $5,000 of this amount before Wingo had established a business relationship with respondent. After he was put on respondent's payroll Wingo misrepresented to the Westcott family that he was working on their son's case with respondent, who, as their son's lawyer, would argue the matter on appeal. Wingo induced Wayman Westcott (a) to sign a contract, without respondent's knowledge or consent, for legal services to be provided by the JM Research Center on behalf of David Westcott [18] and (b) to pay a $12,000 fee, leaving a balance of $6,500 payable in monthly installments of $200. In June 2006 the Westcotts wrote a $12,000 check payable to Jeff Martin and made ten monthly installment payments starting in July 2006 through April 2007. [19] Respondent continued to deposit the Westcotts' checks after his relationship with Wingo had been terminated in October 2006. ¶ 10 Respondent claimed it was not until six months after Wingo's termination that he first learned of Wingo's unauthorized activities and misrepresentations that resulted in the Westcotts' grievance. [20] Numerous e-mails were then exchanged between respondent, Wingo and the Westcotts. Respondent made several attempts to assist the Westcotts. Respondent's malpractice carrier made full restitution to the Westcotts and respondent himself paid the $5,000 deductible amount of his policy.