Opinion ID: 1932149
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: the kupinski matter

Text: In February 1980, respondent was retained by Mr. Stephen Kupinski to handle a negligence case involving an automobile accident that occurred on December 24, 1979. At the time of the accident, Mr. Kupinski was a passenger in an automobile owned and operated by Glen Martin. This automobile was struck in an intersection by a vehicle owned by Elena D. Ziefle and operated by Mark H. Smaling. Upon initiating suit, respondent attempted to have defendants Ziefle and Smaling served with a summons and copy of the complaint. Service could not be effected as both defendants were in the military. Respondent neglected to have the matter placed on the military inactive list. Instead he simply held the matter in abeyance until their release from the military. They were ultimately served in March 1985 after Mr. Kupinski advised respondent that they had been discharged from the service. The defendants in turn entered appearances, filed answers and propounded interrogatories. As of July 26, 1985, the matter against Ziefle and Smaling remained active. Defendant Martin was successfully served. After filing an answer, counsel requested a statement of damages, authorizations to obtain copies of Mr. Kupinski's medical records and answers to interrogatories. Respondent failed to provide any of the requested discovery. Consequently, counsel for defendant moved and obtained a court order compelling respondent to provide all requested information. When the discovery was not forthcoming, counsel filed a motion to dismiss the complaint for failure to comply with the prior court order or, in the alternative, to compel answers to interrogatories. On March 2, 1983, the court dismissed the complaint against Martin. On March 22, 1985, Mr. Kupinski sent respondent a letter demanding answers to a series of questions regarding his lawsuit. Respondent replied one week later on March 29, 1985. As to defendant Martin, respondent admitted that the complaint had in fact been dismissed for failure to answer interrogatories but that a motion for restoration would be filed. No such motion was filed. As to defendants Ziefel and Smaling, respondent stated that the matter had been delayed due to defendants' military status and also delay on my part. By letter dated May 3, 1985, Mr. Kupinski requested more specific information regarding the two law suits. A second request for such information was sent to respondent on July 8, 1985. In the interim, Mr. Kupinski filed grievances with the New York and New Jersey disciplinary authorities. Mr. Kupinski made numerous inquiries regarding the status of his case during a five-year period of time commencing with his retention of respondent. Respondent always assured him that the matters were progressing satisfactorily. In reality, the complaint had never been served on defendants Ziefel and Smaling until March 1985 and the suit against defendant Martin had been dismissed two years previously. Based upon the foregoing, the committee found that respondent had violated DR 6-101(A)(1) and DR 6-101(A)(2) in that he had handled the personal injury matter in such a manner that his conduct constituted both a pattern of negligence and gross negligence. The committee further found that respondent had failed to obtain psychotherapy and failed to arrange to practice under the direct supervision of a New Jersey attorney in the year since the hearing on the Johnson matter which concluded on March 14, 1985. The committee recommended a public reprimand.