Opinion ID: 2329302
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: Alleged Violations of Colo. RPC 1.4(a)

Text: The People allege Respondent failed to adequately communicate with Rivas in violation of Colo. RPC 1.4(a), which requires a lawyer to keep a client reasonably informed about the status of a matter. The People's claim rests on the assertion that Respondent never gave Rivas a copy of the letter from the consulate to Senator Salazar's office or a copy of the letter from the senator's office to Respondent. The People point both to Rivas's testimony that she never saw the letters in question and to Respondent's failure to present documentary evidence demonstrating that he had shown the letters to Rivas. But the People, not Respondent, bear the burden of establishing that misconduct occurred. Given our assessment of the relative credibility of Respondent and Rivas, we are inclined to believe Respondent's testimony that he mailed copies of the letters to Rivas. Respondent's averments are consonant with other evidence of his conscientious communication efforts, including Rivas's own testimony that Respondent was available to talk to her whenever she needed and that he reviewed with her the statutes governing Flores-Garcia's admissibility. Thus, we do not find by clear and convincing evidence that Respondent violated Colo. RPC 1.4(a).