Opinion ID: 2391955
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Complaint of Michael Grady, Esq.

Text: Adijat Toke Okusaga testified that she met the Respondent in 1992 and that he was introduced to her as an immigration lawyer. In March 1993, she retained the Respondent to represent her in obtaining her green card. He was apparently successful in getting her a temporary permit, but told her that it would take five to six years to obtain an immigration visa. The Respondent told her that he would notify her when her priority date was getting close. Ms. Okusaga testified regarding the initial fee arrangement she had with the Respondent. The parties agreed upon a fee of (approximately) $1,500.00 to be paid in monthly installments of $50.00. In June 2000, Ms. Okusaga went to the Respondent's office in Silver Spring. At that time he told her that her priority date was close and that he needed an additional payment. She paid the Respondent another $1,000.00, with the understanding that the balance of the fees would be paid at a later date. She also wanted her husband to be included in her application for which the Respondent charged her an additional $750.00. At that time, the Respondent gave her a list of requirements as it related to her priority date. Ms. Okusaga stated that she obtained all the required documentation (results of medical examination, four years of tax returns, $345.00 check for INS, etc.) and delivered it to the Respondent's office in June 2000. At that time, she picked up one of the Respondent's business cards that identified him as an attorney and gave his Silver Spring, Maryland office address, although it reflected his old suite number. When asked about his move from the fifth to the sixth floor, the Respondent told her that `business was not moving well' and that he was `downsizing.' Ms. Okusaga testified that the Respondent represented her until July 5, 2000. She further testified that when she did not hear from the Respondent for two to three months and her phone calls to him were not returned, another attorney told her that the Respondent had been disbarred [ sic, suspended]. Based upon that information, Ms. Okusaga wrote a letter to the Respondent on October 21, 2000 terminating his services as her attorney. She never received a response to this letter. Testimony adduced at the hearing established that Ms. Okusaga considered the Respondent to be her attorney up until the time she terminated his services. She retained another attorney and, to date, has not received her file from the Respondent as requested. Michael J. Grady, Esq. testified that he had his first consultation with Ms. Okusaga on December 6, 2000. He was retained to recover the legal fees Ms. Okusaga paid the Respondent and to obtain her file. After making about six telephone calls (during December 2000 and early January 2001) to the Respondent, leaving messages, and not having the calls returned, Mr. Grady filed the instant complaint with bar counsel. The Respondent testified that as of June 2000, Ms. Okusaga owed him $2,500.00. He stated that she wrote him a check for $1,000 .00 in June 2000 with the understanding that this payment would be applied against the balance due and owing. He told her that there would be an additional $500.00 fee if she wanted him to continue with the case as well as an additional $750.00 fee to include her husband in the application. According to the Respondent, Ms. Okusaga was told that she needed a letter from her employer verifying her employment. Ms. Okusaga gave him a letter from her employer indicating that she was no longer in that person's employ. The Respondent told her that the letter was insufficient and that, as a result, her application could not be filed.