Opinion ID: 1593294
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 10

Heading: Count VIII The Blackwell Matter

Text: Reginald Blackwell, a resident of New York, received a notice indicating that he owed past-due child support in Louisiana. In January 2001, Mr. Blackwell retained respondent, paying him $500 to determine if the amount of the alleged arrearages was correct. Over the next few months, Mr. Blackwell called respondent several times seeking an update on his progress on the case, only to be told each time that respondent had not been able to reach anyone at the child support enforcement division. By May 2001, when respondent had not obtained any more information than Mr. Blackwell himself had already obtained, Mr. Blackwell terminated the representation. Ultimately, the child support arrearage was made executory and Mr. Blackwell's wages were garnished. The ODC alleges that respondent's conduct violated Rule 3.2 (failure to make reasonable efforts to expedite litigation) of the Rules of Professional Conduct.