Opinion ID: 2514949
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: DA10198 Complaint of C.B.

Text: C.B. retained Respondent to represent him in a criminal case. Following C.B.'s conviction, Respondent filed a timely notice of appeal on November 15, 2005. Thereafter, however, he failed to timely docket the appeal. Eventually, on May 24, 2006, Respondent filed a motion to docket the appeal out of time. The Court of Appeals granted Respondent's request to docket the appeal out of time. However, in so doing, the court issued an order to show cause why he should not be dismissed as appellate counsel because of his inability to manage his practice. On June 21, 2006, Respondent responded to the court's order. In a later order, the court stated that Respondent assured this court that he had recovered from a medical condition that had hindered his practice of law and that he had `already briefed and researched the issues relevant to the appeal.' He informed the court that he was simply waiting on a copy of the transcripts to complete the Appellant's brief. Based upon Respondent's assurances, the Court of Appeals elected to allow him to proceed as counsel for C.B. Despite Respondent's assurances, he failed to file the brief on behalf of C.B. On April 19, 2007, the court dismissed C.B.'s appeal. Because Respondent was retained counsel, the court refused to remand for new counsel to be appointed. The court also ordered Respondent to notify his client in writing that the appeal had been dismissed and to file a copy of the notice to his client with the court by May 3, 2007. Respondent failed to do so. In April 2007, the Disciplinary Administrator's office docketed a complaint against Respondent regarding his representation of C.B. before the Court of Appeals. The Disciplinary Administrator directed Respondent to provide a written response. He failed to do so. Thereafter, Investigator Morgan was assigned to investigate the complaint. Respondent completely failed to comply with Morgan's investigation.