Opinion ID: 2053103
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: huber complaint

Text: Paulette Huber retained respondent in 1977 to file for divorce against her husband. A friend of hers had recommended him. In the initial interview there had been no discussion concerning legal fees. Over the following 15 months, Mrs. Huber paid respondent a total of $375. Although she attempted to communicate with him every other week, the only time she heard from him was when he wanted money. At those times, respondent would inform her that everything is in court, and we're working on it. He also informed her that a complaint had been filed, but neither she nor her husband had received any legal papers. Although the legal papers were dated March 28, 1978, they were not filed until October 17, 1978. The matrimonial action charged constructive desertion and extreme cruelty. Respondent maintained that Mrs. Huber notified him that her husband was furious and vowed to fight for custody of the children if she pursued the divorce on those grounds. According to respondent, she decided not to proceed with the matter. However, Mrs. Huber maintained that for economic reasons she decided to drop the divorce action. She and her husband attempted to reconcile their differences, but were not successful. Mrs. Huber maintained the respondent agreed to refund the unused balance of the retainer after deducting his fees but he never sent her a check. In August 1980, she decided to resume the divorce action and went to another attorney. When she communicated with respondent to obtain the original divorce papers, he told her he was in the process of moving his office and the papers were locked up. He promised he would write new ones. Respondent told her that she had about $200 left in her account and urged her to let him continue with the case. She decided to let respondent proceed and file for divorce under no-fault. She maintained that respondent explained to her that under this provision she and her husband could live in the same house for the 18-month period, but in separate bedrooms. She paid him $75 for filing fees. The complaint, dated January 2, 1981, was filed on January 29, 1981. Respondent maintained, however, that Mrs. Huber had told him her husband was residing at his mother's house and would stay over in the marital home only to see the children. She also informed him that they had not had sexual relations during that period of time. Respondent contended that she could not afford to move from the marital home and that she wanted a no-fault divorce. Respondent claimed he was not told that she had attempted to reconcile with her husband for a brief period. He informed Mrs. Huber that the law required the spouses to live in separate residences, but she insisted that she wanted to proceed with a no-fault divorce. Two months after her husband filed a counterclaim for divorce in February 1981, Mrs. Huber went to another attorney who advised her that the basis for divorce in her complaint was incorrect. Mrs. Huber maintained that when the matrimonial action was heard in court, the trial judge on his own motion dismissed her complaint and proceeded on the basis of her husband's counterclaim. She maintained the judge said her complaint was incorrect and she should proceed against her attorney because he messed up her case. Before the Ethics Committee respondent claimed that from 1977 through 1981 he was under a great deal of pressure, was involved in his own divorce proceedings, and had serious financial problems. He asserted that although he drank more than he should have, this problem did not keep him from pursuing the practice of law. The Ethics Committee concluded that respondent had failed to communicate with his clients and had failed to fulfill contracts of employment. It further determined that respondent's conduct exhibited a pattern of neglectful conduct and that he had neglected legal matters entrusted to him. The DRB agreed with the conclusion of the Ethics Committee, as follows: In each of the complaints here, respondent neglected his clients by failing to keep in contact with them and to keep them informed as to the development of their respective cases. In the Sroke matter, he did not relate his negotiations with the insurance company to his client so the client could realistically assess the strength and weakness of his lawsuit, especially after it was determined that the child-victim suffered only superficial injuries. This uncomplicated civil matter went unresolved for more than eight years. In the Andolena matter, respondent's office negligently failed to file a personal injury action on behalf of his client within the statute of limitations. Although respondent maintained that his partner handled the office routine while he was responsible for trials and other aspects of the practice, it was incumbent upon him to determine the status of the case when his clients telephoned him instead of just stating, Don't worry, everything is in the works. The record indicated the clients were not informed that someone other than respondent would be involved in preparing their cases for trial. In the Stockdale matter, respondent's actions were particularly egregious. Respondent virtually disappeared after accepting Mrs. Stockdale's retainer to file for divorce against her husband. He apparently left her with the impression the divorce would be quickly processed. Her weekly telephone calls to his office went unanswered. About a year after the initial interview, her husband was served with the divorce papers and she waited expectantly to hear from respondent as to when the case would be heard in court. Again, nothing but silence. She was never informed that he had relocated his office. It was her husband's counterclaim for divorce that was granted. In February 1984, she was reimbursed $250 from the Clients' Security Fund for the unearned retainer. In the Huber matter, the record reveals a lack of adequate communication with a client. There was no discussion or agreement as to the legal fee to be charged. Mrs. Huber, too, was unsuccessful in contacting respondent; she heard from him concerning only fee installments. When she later decided to have another attorney handle the case, respondent convinced her to let him continue with it. Again, he did not adequately communicate with her. She testified respondent advised her that she and her husband could reside in the same house but in separate bedrooms. Respondent, on the other hand, maintained that she informed him that her husband was residing at his mother's house. Before an attorney can properly represent a client, the attorney must accurately obtain the facts, the guideposts from which the attorney will determine the legal course or strategy to follow. By obtaining the facts and keeping a client advised of the status of his case, an attorney displays a professionalism that will reflect creditably upon the Bar. In the Model Rules of Professional Conduct, alternate draft May 30, 1981, American Bar Association Commission of Evaluation on Professional Standards, it was noted that [t]he lawyer must communicate to the client, in language the client understands, what the various available courses of action are and why the particular course of action was chosen over the others, before the action is taken.    Over half of the complaints received by the Committee on Professional Ethics and Conduct    are filed because the lawyer failed to properly communicate with the client [ Id. at 186; Guadineer, Ethics and Malpractice, 26 Drake L.Rev. 88, 115 (1976)]. Respondent's conduct in these cases exhibited a pattern of negligence or neglect in his handling of legal matters. Matter of Getchius, 88 N.J. 269, 276 (1982); DR 6-101(A)(2). He failed to communicate with his clients, DR 6-101(A)(2), and to carry out contracts of employment, DR 7-101(A)(2). He also neglected legal matters that were entrusted to him, DR 1-102(A)(6). In reviewing the record, the Board was concerned by respondent's practice of seeking to settle malpractice claims after ethics complaints were filed against him. If that practice were designed to insulate him from ethical charges or to frustrate the process of ethics complaints, it would violate the intent of DR 6-102(A). We have given the record our careful independent review and have reached the same conclusions in respect of the respondent's ethical transgressions as are reflected in the DRB's decision. Respondent does not challenge either those conclusions or the DRB's recommendations, as follows: After carefully reviewing the record, the Board concludes that if all the charges [referring to those preceding the December 1981 temporary suspension] had been heard simultaneously, the discipline recommended would have been a three-year suspension. See In re Hollis, 95 N.J. 253 (1984). For the most part, all the acts of misconduct occurred during the same time period, a time during which respondent's law partner was in charge of office management while respondent was the trial attorney. Respondent's partner was disbarred on May 14, 1980. Although the charges here are serious and can have a detrimental impact on the confidence the public should have in the Bar of this state, no misappropriation of funds was involved. Respondent cooperated with the Ethics Committee throughout the lengthy proceedings against him. In contrast, see In re Netchert, 78 N.J. 445, 453 (1979).         In addition to the recommendation that respondent be suspended from the practice of law for a three-year period, retroactive to the date of his temporary suspension, the Board recommends that prior to his readmission, he demonstrate by providing relevant medical and psychiatric evidence that he is capable of practicing law. In re Goldstaub, 90 N.J. 1 (1982). The Board further recommends respondent be required to reimburse the Ethics Financial Committee for appropriate administrative costs. We accept the recommendation for a three-year suspension, retroactive to the date of respondent's temporary suspension, December 28, 1981. Likewise do we concur in the DRB's recommended condition for lifting of the suspension that respondent undergo a further psychiatric examination, at his expense, at the Adult Diagnostic & Treatment Center at Avenel, to demonstrate his fitness to practice. Further, respondent is to reimburse the Clients' Security Fund for any monies expended on account of his derelictions, and is to repay to the Ethics Financial Committee the administrative costs incurred on account of these proceedings. We add a further condition. Upon fulfillment of the requirements set forth above, respondent may be readmitted to practice only in a sheltered environment  that is, under a form of proctorship. Again, respondent has no objection to such an arrangement, and we were assured at oral argument that Alfred Porro, Esq., of Lyndhurst, will accept the serious and burdensome responsibility of overseeing all aspects of respondent's practice. The precise details of that proctorship are to be approved by the Office of Attorney Ethics. The arrangement will be for a period of one year from the date upon which it is implemented, and until further order of this Court dissolving the proctorship. Mr. Porro is to submit to the Office of Attorney Ethics detailed reports on respondent's status, on a quarterly basis and in a form acceptable to that Office. So ordered. For suspension  Chief Justice WILENTZ and Justices CLIFFORD, HANDLER, POLLOCK, O'HERN and GARIBALDI  6. Opposed  None.