Opinion ID: 2343627
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Complaint of Star J. Branch

Text: On or about April 24, 2002, Star J. Branch (hereinafter `Ms. Branch') retained Respondent to represent her in a disability contract and discrimination claim against the apartment complex where she resided, Bren Brook Apartments. Respondent agreed to handle Ms. Branch's matter for a flat fee of $5,000, plus a ten percent (10%) contingency fee of any monies collected from settlement or trial. Respondent and Ms. Branch executed the retainer agreement on April 24, 2002. Ms. Branch paid Respondent $3,000 on March 11, 2002. She paid the remaining balance of the $5,000 flat fee, in installments, by May 28, 2003. On September 23, 2002, Respondent filed a Complaint for housing discrimination in the Circuit Court for Baltimore County on behalf of Ms. Branch against Bren Brook Apartments and its management company, Equity Management, Inc. On February 21, 2003, the Defendants filed their Answer to the Complaint. On March 11, 2003, the Defendants filed their Motion to Dismiss, or in the Alternative, Motion for Summary Judgment. On March 28, 2003, Respondent filed a Response to Defendants' Motion to Dismiss, or in the Alternative, Motion for Summary Judgment; however, the response was insufficient and did not comply with the Maryland Rules. Respondent's one-page Response was approximately three sentences long and contained a completely different caption than that of Ms. Branch's case, naming the Defendants as `General Motors.' Respondent also failed to attach an affidavit in response to Defendants' allegations. A hearing on Defendants' Motion to Dismiss, or in the Alternative, Motion for Summary Judgment and Plaintiff's Response was set for August 7, 2003. Notice of the hearing was sent to Respondent on or about July 9, 2003. Respondent failed to appear at the August 7, 2003 hearing. On or about August 6, 2003, Respondent allegedly prepared a Request for Postponement of the August 7, 2003 hearing, but he did not file it with the Court. Moreover, Respondent did not advise Ms. Branch of the August 7, 2003 hearing. Furthermore, Respondent did not advise Ms. Branch that he would not appear at the August 7, 2003 hearing. On August 7, 2003, The Honorable Patrick Cavanaugh granted Defendants' Motion to Dismiss, or in the Alternative, Motion for Summary Judgment. Respondent did not advise Ms. Branch that the Court granted the motions. On September 8, 2003, Respondent filed an Interlocutory Appeal in the Court of Special Appeals. However, Respondent failed to file a Prehearing Information Report, as required by Maryland Rule 8-205. On November 3, 2003, the Court of Special Appeals dismissed the appeal filed by Respondent for failure to file an Information Report. Respondent did not advise Ms. Branch that the Court of Special Appeals dismissed her appeal. Respondent took no other action on behalf of Ms. Branch after the dismissal of the appeal. Respondent essentially abandoned Ms. Branch in her civil matter. After retaining Respondent, Ms. Branch tried to communicate with him, via telephone; however, Respondent failed to answer or return her calls. During Bar Counsel's investigation, Respondent failed to respond to requests for information from the Office of Bar Counsel. On December 22, 2003, Assistant Bar Counsel Lee sent a letter to Respondent requesting his written response to the allegations in Ms. Branch's complaint. Respondent did not respond to that letter. On January 7, 2004, Ms. Lee sent another letter to Respondent, via certified mail, requesting his written response to Ms. Branch's complaint. Respondent, again, did not respond to Ms. Lee's letter. The certified letter was returned marked, `unclaimed.'