Opinion ID: 1991636
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: The Doley Matter

Text: In November 1977, Carolyn Doley, now known as Carolyn Lombardi (grievant), engaged respondent to institute a divorce action against her then husband, who had been respondent's client from 1971 to 1975. In 1975 or 1976, respondent had also represented grievant in a matrimonial matter against her first husband. In spite of the fact that respondent had represented both parties on prior occasions, he undertook to represent them in their divorce settlement. At no time did respondent advise grievant of a potential or actual conflict of interest arising out of the dual representation. Ultimately, grievant retained new counsel. Respondent refused to release her share of the net proceeds of the sale of the marital home, which proceeds he was holding in escrow, demanding that grievant pay him the sum of $2,500.00 from the escrowed proceeds. Grievant then instituted an action against respondent for the release of the escrow funds. The matter was decided in favor of grievant. The court ruled that respondent had committed a tortious act of conversion by asserting control of escrowed funds belonging to grievant. Eventually, respondent released the funds to grievant, albeit with considerable delay. The hearing before the district ethics committee took place on May 14, 1985. At the end of grievant's testimony, respondent requested an adjournment to afford him the opportunity to obtain legal representation. He advised the committee that he would have to make an application for the appointment of an attorney, in view of his indigent status. The committee granted an adjournment. No application, however, was ever made. The committee made numerous attempts to contact respondent by telephone and by letters, advising him that, unless an attorney were appointed, the matter would proceed without him. Respondent never replied. At the conclusion of the second hearing, the committee found that respondent had violated DR 2-106, DR 9-101, DR 7-104 and DR 4-101. Specifically, the committee concluded that respondent had been guilty of overreaching; had communicated with a party of adverse interest who was not represented by counsel; had breached the confidentiality of an attorney/client relationship; and had failed to avoid the appearance of impropriety. The committee recommended that respondent be publicly reprimanded.