Opinion ID: 2330653
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Count IV: Comeaux [22]

Text: ¶ 13 On October 18, 2007, Comeaux hired Townsend to enter an appearance in an on-going contract dispute. Approximately a month later, she paid him one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) as a retainer. Townsend did not enter an appearance in the cause or undertake any steps to settle the matter. After attempting to reach him on more than twenty (20) occasions without response, Comeaux filed a grievance on September 30, 2008. At the hearing, Townsend didn't really remember the specifics of his agreement with the client. After he received the grievance, he returned the retainer and sent Comeaux an apology letter explaining his situation regarding the divorce, suicide, office breakup, depression, and anxiety. Earlier he had advised her to retain new counsel. Townsend was certain that he had received the grievance and that he did not respond in a timely manner.