Opinion ID: 1379246
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 23

Heading: The Wroble Matter

Text: Wroble, who lived out of state, retained Respondent in a divorce and custody matter and paid Respondent fees of approximately $3,500, plus an additional $500 to hire a private investigator. After a period of months, Wroble asked Respondent for a report on the investigator's findings. Respondent failed to adequately answer his client's inquires, instead providing vague answers, such as that Wroble's husband was slick ... Respondent contacted Wroble to explain that there had been a hearing in the matter, that Respondent had been present at the hearing and represented Wroble. Respondent did not notify Wroble of the hearing in advance. As a result of Respondent's lack of diligence, Wroble did not receive the family court's order directing her to pay child support until she was already in violation of the order. During the course of representation, Respondent failed to obtain available evidence of prior criminal domestic violence by Wroble's spouse or of Wroble's spouse's adulterous relationship, committed in the presence of Wroble's children. Respondent failed to prepare adequately for trial and used coercive tactics to have Wroble sign an agreement for joint custody of the children. Respondent failed to adequately protect his client's interests in this agreement. Respondent failed to respond to Wroble's request for an itemized bill. Wroble filed a letter of complaint with the Commission on Lawyer Conduct and Respondent failed to respond to the subsequent inquiries and investigation.