Opinion ID: 2088220
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Respondent's Withdrawal From the Four Civil Lawsuits.

Text: Mr. Oliver's exuberant admiration of Respondent's legal abilities reached its zenith shortly after the successful defense in the criminal assault proceeding, but Mr. Oliver's enthusiasm began to wane after the civil lawsuits had been filed. Then, when Mr. Oliver received the court's decisions dismissing or drastically curtailing the claims in the Goldschmidt, Bell and MSPB cases, the relationship between Respondent and Mr. Oliver deteriorated rapidly and soon became hostile. Finally, on March 26, 1982 Respondent filed a motion to withdraw from all four cases. In a letter to the court dated April 1, 1982, Mr. Oliver objected to the withdrawal motion on the ground that the motion was a surprise and without warning and on the further ground that Mr. Oliver did not have other counsel at the time. Nonetheless, a few weeks later, the court granted the motion and Respondent was therefore allowed to withdraw from all four civil cases. Thereafter, a dispute developed between Respondent and Mr. Oliver concerning the latter's request for a refund of $12,700 of the amount previously paid to Respondent for handling the civil litigation. Respondent did not refund any sums pursuant to Mr. Oliver's request. However, the Hearing Committee concluded that Bar Counsel did not establish any of the alleged violations of the Disciplinary Rules relating to this fee dispute, and Bar Counsel has not filed an exception to the Hearing Committee's Report on that point. Accordingly, it is unnecessary for the Board to consider the details of that aspect of the controversy between Respondent and Mr. Oliver.