Opinion ID: 1578886
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: counts ten through twelve

Text: ¶ 18. The OLR complaint alleged, and Jaconi now stipulates, that on August 8, 2001, Jaconi agreed to represent J.Y. and commence a divorce action on J.Y.'s behalf for a flat fee of $1200. On August 8, 2001, J.Y.'s friend paid $200 to Jaconi toward that fee. On November 20, 2001, J.Y. paid Jaconi $125; then on January 25, 2002, J.Y. paid Jaconi an additional $50. ¶ 19. J.Y. also discussed with Jaconi a potential medical malpractice claim and gave Jaconi copies of J.Y.'s medical records and medication histories concerning that claim. ¶ 20. After their initial August 8, 2001, conference, J.Y. had only one additional meeting with Jaconi. After that second meeting, J.Y. had no further contact with Jaconi. ¶ 21. Jaconi never prepared a petition for divorce on J.Y.'s behalf nor did he return J.Y.'s repeated telephone calls about the matter. On March 13, 2002, J.Y. sent Jaconi a certified letter terminating his representation and requesting the return of the money that had been paid toward Jaconi's fee. After three attempts at delivery, J.Y.'s letter was returned by the post office as unclaimed. ¶ 22. Jaconi subsequently informed the OLR investigators that he was willing to refund the money J.Y. and his friend had paid but Jaconi feared that might be construed as an attempt by him to inappropriately influence an OLR grievant. Jaconi was advised by the OLR that he could refund J.Y.'s money and it would not be construed as an attempt by him to influence a grievant. Despite that assurance, Jaconi never refunded J.Y.'s payments and has not returned J.Y.'s medical documents. ¶ 23. Based on this admitted course of conduct, the OLR complaint charged Jaconi with three counts of professional misconduct, to which he now stipulates: COUNT TEN: By failing to commence a divorce action on behalf of J.Y. over the course of six months, Jaconi failed to act with reasonable diligence and promptness in representing a client, in violation of SCR 20:1.3. COUNT ELEVEN: By failing to respond to J.Y.'s phone calls or otherwise communicate with J.Y. after the two initial meetings, and by failing to accept a certified letter for J.Y., Jaconi failed to keep a client reasonably informed about the status of a matter and promptly comply with reasonable requests for information, in violation of SCR 20:1.4(a). COUNT TWELVE: By failing to return J.Y's money, and by failing to return the materials relating to J.Y.'s malpractice claim, Jaconi failed to take steps to the extent reasonably practicable to protect a client's interests, in violation of SCR 20:1.16(d).