Opinion ID: 1800005
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: ) Neglect of Mr. Hills' Legal Matter

Text: The bar association alleges that respondent violated Disciplinary Rule 6-101(A)(3), which states that a lawyer shall not neglect a legal matter entrusted to her, by failing to adequately communicate with Mr. Hills and to proceed in the representation of him. The evidence shows that in June of 1985, Mr. Frederick Hills paid respondent $100 as a retainer, with a balance due of $100, to handle a case involving the Civil Service Commission. Respondent took no action on his behalf. Mr. Hills complained by letter to the Committee on Professional Responsibility in September and again in October of 1985 that no action had been taken on his behalf and that he had been unable to reach the respondent because her phone numbers had been disconnected. Respondent alleges that about a week after Mr. Hills retained her he was arrested on a battery charge. She claims that he left a message for her saying that he did not have the money to pay the balance of her retainer because his family was trying to raise money for his bail, and that she never heard from him again, although she claims to have sent him an announcement of her new address. Respondent also claims that she earned the $100 because she spent several hours researching his claim. In light of the fact that Mr. Hills did not testify before the Committee, that he may have defaulted on the balance of his retainer, and that he may have been notified of respondent's change of address, we do not find that the evidence is clear and convincing that respondent violated DR 6-101(A)(3). We note, however, that had Mr. Hills testified, he may have established that respondent led him to believe she would proceed with a substantial amount of work on his case, even though the advance or retainer was insufficient to compensate her for that work. We further note that respondent introduced no evidence to establish that she made it clear to Mr. Hills that she was withdrawing from his case.