Opinion ID: 1350739
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: the middleton matter

Text: In 1988, Beverly Middleton engaged Mr. Cometti to represent her in an appeal of a denial of unemployment compensation benefits. Mr. Cometti failed to file the appeal. Mr. Cometti did not return Ms. Middleton's telephone calls concerning the status of her appeal. She only learned of Mr. Cometti's failure to file her appeal by telephoning the Bureau of Employment Security. Mr. Cometti later acknowledged his failure to file the appeal. He then offered to pay Ms. Middleton the benefits she would have received had her appeal been successful, if, in return, Ms. Middleton would agree not to sue Mr. Cometti for malpractice. Ms. Middleton agreed to this offer. The agreement was dated August 14, 1989, and called for eight monthly payments of $234. [9] After Mr. Cometti failed to make regular monthly payments, Ms. Middleton instituted this ethics complaint against him, and only then did he pay the back payments he owed her. The Committee found that Mr. Cometti had violated Rule 1.8(h) of the Rules of Professional Conduct because he failed to advise Ms. Middleton that she should retain independent representation in connection with her agreement not to sue him for malpractice. Rule 1.8(h) states: A lawyer shall not make an agreement prospectively limiting the lawyer's liability to a client for malpractice unless permitted by law and the client is independently represented in making the agreement, or settle a claim for such liability with an unrepresented client or former client without first advising that person in writing that independent representation is appropriate in connection therewith. Rule 1.8(h) is designed to cover two situations. The first is where a lawyer accepts representation of a client, but conditions such representation upon the client's prospectively releasing the attorney from any potential claim for malpractice in the handling of the case. The second situation is where the attorney, in his representation of the client, commits malpractice and then seeks to settle the matter and obtain a release from the client who is unrepresented. Ordinarily, an attorney may not seek exoneration from potential malpractice claims in the absence of some statutory provision. E.g., The Florida State Bar v. Cohen, 331 So.2d 306 (Fla.1976); In re Cissna, 444 N.E.2d 851 (Ind.1983); In re Tallon, 86 A.D.2d 897, 447 N.Y.S.2d 50 (1982). See generally Annot., 14 A.L.R.4th 209 (1982). Under W.Va.Code, 30-2-11 (1923), a waiver of prospective malpractice would not be proper in this jurisdiction. [10] In the situation where an attorney has committed malpractice and then wishes to have the client release him from liability, Rule 1.8(h) of the Rules of Professional Conduct requires that the attorney advise the client in writing that consultation with an independent attorney should be undertaken. See, e.g., The Florida Bar v. Nemec, 390 So.2d 1190 (Fla.1980); In re Tallon, supra ; State v. Tadych, 69 Wis.2d 77, 230 N.W.2d 162 (1975). Here, Mr. Cometti admits that he never advised Ms. Middleton to seek outside counsel before signing the agreement. Prior to the adoption of Rule 1.8(h), a similar provision was found in DR 6-102(A) of the Code of Professional Responsibility, [11] which we considered in Committee on Legal Ethics v. Hazlett, 179 W.Va. 303, 367 S.E.2d 772 (1988). There, the attorney refused to turn over the clients' files unless they signed a release from any and all liability of any kind. We found the attorney's conduct unethical. In this case, the malpractice had already been committed by virtue of Mr. Cometti's failure to file a timely appeal. His direct negotiation of the agreement with his client without the intervention of independent counsel violates Rule 1.8(h). This rule forbids an attorney from making an agreement with a present or former client to settle a claim that such client has against the attorney, without first advising such client in writing that independent counsel should be consulted. It is not disputed that Rule 1.8(h) was not complied with by Mr. Cometti.