Opinion ID: 1464230
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Competence, Diligence, Communication, and Excessive Fees

Text: Judge Woodward found the following concerning Snyder's representation of Marah Gensink in 1994 when he was practicing on his own: In or about August 1994, Ms. Gensink was charged in Allegany County with driving while intoxicated and other motor vehicle violations. Later that month, she was charged with harassment and telephone misuse in the District Court for Washington County. On or about August 28, 1994, Ms. Gensink was admitted to the Washington County Hospital for mental health reasons in connection with a fire in her residence. She was subsequently charged with arson in Washington County District Court on or about September, 1994. Ms. Gensink was transferred from Washington County Hospital to Taylor Manor Hospital and then to the Finan Center where she remained until February 14, 1995. After being contacted by Ms. Gensink for legal representation, [Snyder] prepared a letter for Ms. Gensink's signature dated August 30, 1994, requesting the redemption of nine thousand dollars ($9,000) from her retirement account in order to pay seven thousand, five hundred dollars ($7,500) to [Snyder] for his fee. [Snyder] received those funds. On or about September 19, 1994, [Snyder] entered his appearance on behalf of Ms. Gensink in the District Court for Allegany County regarding the DWI charges and filed a Motion for Continuance based on her psychiatric commitment. On September 28, 1994, Ms. Gensink and [Snyder] entered into a written fee agreement providing that for a flat fee of seventy-five hundred dollars ($7,500) [Snyder] would represent Ms. Gensink in connection with `pending criminal and DWI charges; preparation of Power of Attorneys; issues arising out of psychiatric commitment; arson investigation; coordination of mail, payment of bills, and depositing of pension and disability check with family, banking officials and creditors.' This agreement did not limit the representation in the DWI matter to the District Court. Ms. Gensink also signed a letter prepared by [Snyder] dated September 17, 1994, requesting to redeem thirty thousand dollars ($30,000) from her retirement account in order to net twenty-four thousand dollars ($24,000) for [Snyder's] fee. [Snyder] received those funds. [Snyder] and Ms. Gensink entered into another written fee agreement dated September 28, 1994, providing that for a flat fee of twenty thousand dollars ($20,000) [Snyder] would represent Ms. Gensink `in connection with pending felony arson charges, plea of not criminally responsible, Motion for Mental Examination, and defense of charges.' [Snyder] held the balance of four thousand dollars ($4,000) on behalf of Ms. Gensink. On or about November 10, 1994, [Snyder] wrote to Ms. Gensink advising that he would request a jury trial in the Allegany County case and that his retainer for the Circuit Court would be fifteen hundred dollars ($1,500). Notwithstanding the flat fee agreement entered into on September 28, 1994, on that same day [Snyder] disbursed the additional fifteen hundred dollars ($1,500) to himself from Ms. Gensink's funds. After Ms. Gensink's discharge from the Finan Center, [Snyder] entered his appearance in the arson case in the District Court for Washington County on February 15, 1995 and requested a preliminary hearing. [Snyder] and Ms. Gensink appeared at the preliminary hearing on the arson charges in the District Court for Washington County on March 29, 1995 and the charges were dismissed for lack of probable cause. [Snyder] did not return any unearned portion of the twenty thousand dollar ($20,000) fee he collected for the arson case although he did not perform a substantial portion of the work contemplated by the fee agreement. Although [Snyder] contends that the twenty thousand dollar ($20,000) fee covered the arson investigation and his efforts to prevent charges being brought, the arson investigation was clearly covered by the seventy-five hundred ($7,500) dollar flat fee agreement. [Snyder] requested a jury trial in the DWI case in Allegany County on February 27, 1995, and a summons was issued to Ms. Gensink setting the initial appearance in that case for March 27, 1995. The summons clearly stated that failure to appear personally on that date could result in arrest. On or about March 17, 1995, [Snyder] sent to Ms. Gensink a copy of his entry of appearance and advised her that it would not be necessary for her to appear for the initial appearance. [Snyder] and Ms. Gensink did not appear for the initial appearance on the DWI charges and a body attachment was issued for Ms. Gensink for failure to appear. [Snyder] learned of the outstanding body attachment in a conversation with the State's Attorney. [Snyder] failed to take steps to have the warrant recalled because the State's Attorney had indicated that when a plea date was set, the warrant would be withdrawn. [Snyder] assumed that such withdrawal would probably occur before the warrant's service, because the warrant was issued in Allegany County and Ms. Gensink was in Washington County. On or about April 27, 1995, Ms. Gensink was arrested on the body attachment in the DWI case and incarcerated at the detention center in Cumberland, Maryland. The following day after spending the night in the detention center Ms. Gensink appeared, without counsel, for her bond hearing and was released on her own recognizance. On or about May 24, 1995, [Snyder] and Ms. Gensink appeared for trial in the Circuit Court for Allegany County on the DWI charges and Ms. Gensink entered a plea of guilty to driving while intoxicated. The State entered a nolle prosequi to the other charges and Ms. Gensink received a sentence of six (6) months that was suspended and three (3) years supervised probation. The hearing judge concluded by clear and convincing evidence that Snyder violated Rules 1.1, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5(a), and 8.4(d) of the MRPC in his representation of Gensink. Snyder argues in his second exception to the hearing judge's findings of fact and conclusions of law that Judge Woodward erred in rendering findings of fact against him in the absence of live testimony from Gensink. In his exception, however, respondent notes that his own testimony helped to form the basis of the hearing judge's findings of fact and conclusions of law. In light of the documentary evidence (totaling one-hundred and eighteen documents) admitted at the hearing, which included correspondence and records relating to Snyder's representation of Gensink, and Snyder's own testimony concerning his representation, we conclude that the hearing judge's findings of fact and conclusion that Snyder violated Rules 1.1, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5(a), and 8.4(d) were supported by clear and convincing evidence. MRPC 1.1 requires that a lawyer provide competent representation to his clients. As we explained in Attorney Grievance Comm'n v. Manning, 318 Md. 697, 569 A.2d 1250 (1990): In recent years ... we have noticed too many instances when lawyers have agreed to represent clients and accepted fees, in part or in whole, only to completely neglect these same legal problems, causing the same clients emotional distress, financial loss, or other varying kinds of inconvenience ... this kind of persistent conduct is evidence of a lawyer's disregard of his obligation. Id. at 704-05, 569 A.2d at 1254. We have explained the importance of MRPC 1.1 by stating that [t]he requirement of adequate preparation has long been recognized as part of a lawyer's responsibility to provide competent representation, and it is not without significance that, in the current Code of Professional Responsibility embodied in the [MRPC], the duty to provide competent representation is given `the place of honor as the first ingredient in the lawyer-client relationship.' Attorney Grievance Comm'n v. Ficker, 349 Md. 13, 39-40, 706 A.2d 1045, 1057-58 ( Ficker II ) (1998)(quoting 1 GEOFFREY C. HAZARD, JR. AND W. WILLIAM HODES, THE LAW OF LAWYERING, 2d ed. § 1.1:101 (1997)). At the time Snyder undertook his representation of Marah Gensink, he was well aware of those mental health issues which were linked to some of the matters for which legal representation was sought. Snyder's irresponsibility and lack of diligence in failing to research whether Gensink needed to be present at the initial appearance before the court in Allegany County, and his subsequent failure to have the warrant for Gensink's arrest recalled once he learned of its issuance, provides sufficient evidence that Snyder did not have the legal knowledge, skill, thoroughness and preparation reasonably necessary for the representation. MRPC 1.1. As a consequence of Snyder's misfeasance, his client was arrested, spent the night at the detention center, and appeared without representation for her bond hearing. The hearing judge also appropriately concluded that Snyder violated MRPC 1.3 in his representation of Gensink. MRPC 1.3 requires lawyers to act with reasonable diligence and promptness in the representation of their clients. The initial appearance in Gensink's DWI case, for which Snyder failed to appear and advised his client that she did not need to appear, took place on March 27, 1995. Although several weeks elapsed between the issuance of the body attachment for Gensink, and her eventual arrest on April 27, 1995, Snyder failed to act in a timely manner to prevent the arrest and remedy the situationin fact, he did nothing at all. Snyder also violated MRPC 1.4 in his representation of Gensink by failing to explain to her the circumstances and legal implications of her DWI case in Allegany County in order to enable her to make informed decisions concerning Snyder's representation of her in that case. Snyder improperly advised Gensink that she did not need to appear in court for the initial appearance. Based on this information, Gensink did not appear and was arrested. Without a sufficient explanation from Snyder concerning the relevant law and procedure as required by MRPC 1.4, Snyder deprived Gensink of the ability to make an informed decision about her case. See Attorney Grievance Comm'n v. Cassidy, 362 Md. 689, 698, 766 A.2d 632, 637 (2001). Snyder's sixth exception vaguely asserts that he never `misappropriated' any funds of any client and that he always adhered to fixed fee engagement retainers which he deposited accordingly. Snyder has failed to present us with an exception appropriately challenging Judge Woodward's findings of fact and conclusion that he violated Rule 1.5(a). Snyder has not convinced this Court that the trial judge's finding of unreasonableness was clearly erroneous. Thus, we agree with Judge Woodward's conclusion that Snyder violated Rule 1.5(a) in his representation of Marah Gensink. Additionally, we agree with Judge Woodward's conclusion that Snyder's failure to appear at the initial appearance on behalf of Gensink, and his failure to be present at the bond hearing following Gensink's incarceration constitute conduct which is prejudicial to the administration of justice in violation of MRPC 8.4(d). See Attorney Grievance Comm'n v. Ficker, 319 Md. 305, 315, 572 A.2d 501, 505-06 (1990)( Ficker I ); Attorney Grievance Comm'n v. Howard, 282 Md. 515, 523, 385 A.2d 1191, 1196 (1978). Judge Woodward set forth the following findings of fact concerning Snyder's representation of Dorothy Whipp, which took place in 1996: Dorothy Whipp consulted [Snyder] regarding a charge of failure to remain at the scene of a bodily injury accident and related charges. [Snyder] agreed to represent Ms. Whipp regarding those charges for a fee of twenty-five hundred dollars ($2,500), which fee Ms. Whipp paid the day of her consultation with [Snyder]. There was no written retainer agreement. Ms. Whipp testified that she made several calls over the next two months but did not hear from [Snyder] again until several days before the trial when he advised her to meet him at his office the morning of the trial. [Snyder] testified that prior to the District Court trial date, he spoke to the Deputy and was satisfied that he had no axe to grind in the case. On the day of the District Court trial, Ms. Whipp, along with her daughter and son, met [Snyder] at his office and walked over to the court. [Snyder] did not discuss the case with Ms. Whipp prior to walking over to court. [Snyder] did not inquire into the background of the complaining witness or investigate whether he had any treatment for the alleged injury sustained in the incident prior to the District Court trial date. [Snyder] did not talk with the prosecutor, police officer and the complaining witness until immediately before trial was scheduled to begin. On the day of trial, [Snyder] advised Ms. Whipp that, in view of her emotional state, if they tried the case that day in front of the presiding judge, she ran the risk of conviction and he recommended that they pray a jury trial. According to Ms. Whipp, on the day of trial the only items in [Snyder's] file for her case were a picture of the complaining witness, the traffic citations, and Ms. Whipp's personal information. [Snyder] requested an additional fee of fifteen hundred dollars ($1,500) to represent Ms. Whipp in the Circuit Court. Ms. Whipp gave [Snyder] a check for fifteen hundred dollars ($1,500) that day. After leaving court, Ms. Whipp had second thoughts and stopped payment on the check. Ms. Whipp retained new counsel who requested a refund from [Snyder] of the unused portion of the twenty-five hundred dollar ($2,500) fee and [Snyder] returned one thousand dollars ($1,000) to Ms. Whipp. The court concluded by clear and convincing evidence that Snyder violated Rules 1.3 and 1.5(a) of the MRPC in his representation of Whipp. We find no merit in Snyder's contention that the hearing judge erroneously concluded that Snyder was ill-prepared and overcharged his client in his representation of Dorothy Whipp. Rather, we conclude that the record demonstrates by clear and convincing evidence that Snyder violated MRPC 1.3 and 1.5(a) in his representation of Whipp. Despite his protestations to the contrary, the record indicates that Snyder was not prepared for the trial of Ms. Whipp's case. See Attorney Grievance Comm'n v. Harrington, 367 Md. 36, 49-51, 785 A.2d 1260, 1267-68 (2001)(sustaining the hearing judge's conclusion of law that an attorney violated MRPC 1.3 by failing to diligently pursue the legal representation of three separate clients as evidenced by his lack of action on their cases and failure to respond to client inquiries and otherwise communicate with clients concerning their cases). Thus, by neglecting his responsibilities to Whipp in failing to diligently represent her interests, Snyder violated MRPC 1.3. See Attorney Grievance Comm'n v. Chasnoff, 366 Md. 250, 267-68, 783 A.2d 224, 234 (2001); Milliken, 348 Md. at 516, 704 A.2d at 1240. With regard to Snyder's argument that he did not overcharge Whipp for the services he rendered, we find that Judge Woodward's findings of fact and conclusions of law that Snyder violated Rule 1.5(a) were supported by clear and convincing evidence. Lastly, Snyder argues that the AGC was on a fishing expedition, which would make the AGC's action against him somehow prejudicial or unfounded. The generality of Snyder's fifth exception fails to provide a cogent challenge to Judge Woodward's findings of fact and conclusions of law. See Attorney Grievance Comm'n v. Shaw, 363 Md. 1, 12, 766 A.2d 1028, 1033-34 (2001)( Shaw II ). We also note that Snyder has asked the Court to consider laches as a mitigating factor. Although the investigation of and subsequent proceedings in this case began in 1993, the delays in moving the case forward are attributable to the volume of business records which needed to be reviewed, and a delay in obtaining access to some of the records which were being reviewed by other authorities in conjunction with a separate investigation. Nevertheless, we decline to apply the doctrine of latches as a basis to dismiss this matter or to serve as a mitigating factor in our sanctioning of Snyder, [b]ecause the purpose of disciplinary action against an attorney is to protect the public [such that] dismissal of the disciplinary petition for the sole reason that the Attorney Grievance Commission failed to proceed with the proper dispatch is manifestly unwarranted. Attorney Grievance Comm'n v. Kahn, 290 Md. 654, 684, 431 A.2d 1336, 1352 (1981).