Opinion ID: 2458428
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 34

Heading: Part 2: Recommended Sanction Under ABA Standards

Text: 50. ABA Standards § 4.5 sets out sanctions for failure to provide competent representation to a client: 4.53 Reprimand is generally appropriate when a lawyer: (a) demonstrates failure to understand relevant legal doctrines or procedures and causes injury or potential injury to a client; or (b) is negligent in determining whether he or she is competent to handle a legal matter and causes injury or potential injury to a client. 51. ABA Standards § 4.4 sets out the sanctions for breach of a lawyer's duty of diligence, including a lawyer's duty to contact his clients and return their calls: 4.42 Suspension is generally appropriate when: (a) a lawyer knowingly fails to perform services for a client and causes injury or potential injury to a client; or (b) a lawyer engages in a pattern of neglect and causes injury or potential injury to a client. 4.43 Reprimand is generally appropriate when a lawyer is negligent and does not act with reasonable diligence in representing a client, and causes injury or potential injury to a client. 52. ABA Standards § 4.6 sets out the sanctions for breach of a lawyer's duty to provide accurate information to support the fee the lawyer collects for the services performed. 4.62 Suspension is generally appropriate when a lawyer knowingly deceives a client, and causes injury or potential injury to the client. 4.63 Reprimand is generally appropriate when a lawyer negligently fails to provide a client with accurate or complete information, and causes injury or potential injury to the client. 53. ABA Standards § 4.3 sets out the sanctions for breach of a lawyer's duty to avoid conflicts of interest: 4.33 Reprimand is generally appropriate when a lawyer is negligent in determining whether the representation of a client may be materially affected by the lawyer's own interests, or whether the representation will adversely affect another client, and causes injury or potential injury to a client. 54. ABA Standards § 4.1 sets out the sanctions for breach of a lawyer's duty to preserve a client's property: 4.11 Disbarment is generally appropriate when a lawyer knowingly converts client property and causes injury or potential injury to a client. 4.12 Suspension is generally appropriate when a lawyer knows or should know that he is dealing improperly with client property and causes injury or potential injury to a client. 55. ABA Standards § 6.0 addresses violations of duties owed to the legal system by a lawyer who is not truthful in his statements to others. 56. Section 6.12 recommends suspension when a lawyer knows that material information is improperly being withheld, and takes no remedial action, and causes injury or potential injury to a party to the legal proceedings, or causes an adverse or potentially adverse effect on the legal proceeding. 57. Under Section 6.13 a reprimand is: Generally appropriate when a lawyer is negligent either in determining whether statements or documents are false or in taking remedial action when material information is being withheld, and causes injury or potential injury to a party to the legal proceeding, or causes an adverse or potentially adverse effect on the legal proceeding. 58. ABA Standard § 6.2 addresses the appropriate discipline when a lawyer abuses the legal process by failing to obey an obligation under the rules of a tribunal. 59. Section 6.22 suspension is appropriate when a lawyer knows that he is violating a court order or rule, and there is injury or potential injury to a client or party or interference or potential interference with a legal proceeding.