Opinion ID: 1293209
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: The Kuparinen Matter

Text: Evidence of the Kuparinen matter was before the hearing panel by stipulation. Though petitioner's conduct in that matter constitutes a violation of former rule 2-111, Rules of Professional Conduct, that violation has little weight in our decision here. In July 1982, petitioner was hired by Mary Kuparinen to bring a medical malpractice action against Dr. James Manion and the Eisenhower Medical Center for an alleged personal injury. In April 1983, petitioner filed a complaint on behalf of Mrs. Kuparinen and served the summons and complaint upon both defendants. Only one of the two defendants answered. Petitioner apparently never filed a proof of service of a summons and complaint, and did not move to take the default of the defendant who failed to answer. During the course of discovery, petitioner became concerned that Mrs. Kuparinen was lying about the accident which had brought her to the hospital. In late 1984, petitioner contacted Mrs. Kuparinen and indicated that he did not want to represent her further because he did not believe in the merit of her claim. Mrs. Kuparinen apparently did not understand that petitioner was terminating the attorney-client relationship, and petitioner failed to follow up the conversation with a letter or a form for the substitution of attorneys. In September 1987, Mrs. Kuparinen attempted to contact petitioner by telephone to request her case file. When petitioner failed to return her call, Mrs. Kuparinen contacted the State Bar and complained that she could not obtain her file from petitioner. In October 1987, after the State Bar contacted petitioner, Mrs. Kuparinen went to petitioner's office and retrieved her file. At that time she signed a substitution of attorney form. Petitioner advised Mrs. Kuparinen as to when the five-year statute of limitations for failure to bring her cause of action would expire, and that she should seek other legal advice if she cared to pursue the matter. Thereafter, petitioner filed a Request to Enter the Default of Dr. James Manion and the proof of service of summons and complaint as to that defendant. Petitioner also filed the substitution of attorney form, replacing himself with Mrs. Kuparinen, in propria persona. In December 1987, Mrs. Kuparinen's action was dismissed as to Dr. Manion due to her failure to file a proof of service of the summons and complaint within three years. In April 1988, the action was dismissed as to Eisenhower Medical Center for failure to bring the lawsuit to trial within five years.