Opinion ID: 1815199
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Complaint Concerning Representation of Wyant.

Text: The committee on February 19, 1986 filed a complaint concerning respondent's representation of Christine Wyant in connection with a claim of professional negligence she wished to assert against a medical clinic and a doctor who had been treating her for arthritis. Respondent undertook that representation pursuant to a written contract of employment signed on May 5, 1978, and he filed a lawsuit on behalf of Wyant in Polk County District Court on October 5, 1979 when he was unable to negotiate a satisfactory settlement of her claim for damages. Thereafter respondent grossly mishandled what the committee correctly determined to be an obviously meritorious claim. We summarize the facts on this Wyant matter from testimony at the hearing and the allegations of the complaint which respondent belatedly admitted when he personally appeared at the hearing before a commission panel. The lawyer retained to defend the Wyant lawsuit had taken the deposition of respondent's client, then told respondent that he could and would obtain for Wyant $40,000 in settlement of the lawsuit. Respondent never responded to that offer and did not even communicate it to his client. Respondent made no further effort to achieve a fair settlement of the claim and lawsuit, and he did nothing to prepare the case or schedule it for trial. On August 11, 1981, nearly two years after he had filed the lawsuit, respondent was notified in writing by the clerk of court that the case would be dismissed for lack of prosecution unless continued by order or tried before January 1, 1982. See Iowa R.Civ.P. 215.1. Respondent did nothing to protect Wyant after receiving that notice, and the case was dismissed on January 1, 1982. Inconceivably, respondent did not even attempt to reinstate the case within the following six months, a procedure permitted by rule 215.1, thereby depriving his client of her last chance to keep alive her medical malpractice lawsuit against the medical clinic and doctor. It is small consolation to respondent's client that she thereafter retained private counsel, filed a legal malpractice action against respondent, and obtained a default judgment against him in the amount of $53,738, interest from October 18, 1979, and costs. Respondent had no professional liability insurance from which that judgment might be paid, and the judgment remains unsatisfied. By his misconduct in handling the Wyant claim and lawsuit, respondent violated those disciplinary rules and ethical considerations we have cited and referred to in division I of this opinion with respect to his mishandling of the Mumma civil litigation. Moreover, as with the committee's complaint concerning the Mumma matter, respondent failed to cooperate with the persons called upon by the committee to investigate the charges Christine Wyant referred to it. Throughout the period in which the committee was investigating those charges, and thereafter when its complaint had been filed and was being prosecuted, respondent refused to offer persons inquiring into the matter any response, explanation, cooperation, or assistance whatsoever. By this uncooperative attitude and conduct respondent also committed separate violations of those ethical considerations and disciplinary rules cited in division I of this opinion pertaining to his failure to respond and cooperate concerning the Mumma charges.