Opinion ID: 1379246
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 21

Heading: The Solesbee Matter

Text: Solesbee retained Respondent in a domestic matter and paid Respondent fees of approximately $1,000. Approximately three months after being retained, Respondent notified Solesbee that another attorney had been associated on the case. Respondent did not consult with, nor request approval from his client prior to this association, nor did Respondent have Solesbee's permission to engage another attorney. Respondent was unable to timely obtain a hearing on Solesbee's behalf. Respondent, through his staff, told Solesbee that the reason for delay was difficulty in serving the pleadings on Solesbee's spouse. Respondent attended a hearing on this matter, and at the hearing, improperly prompted Solesbee on the witness stand to agree to certain matters concerning marital debt to which Solesbee had not originally agreed. As the one-year mark approached for a final hearing, Respondent represented to Solesbee that a hearing had been scheduled. Before the purportedly scheduled hearing, Respondent was arrested for a criminal violation and placed on interim suspension. Prior to his suspension, Respondent had never requested a hearing on Solesbee's behalf. Respondent failed to file the parties' agreement with the court and took no action to have the agreement approved by the family court. Solesbee was forced to obtain other legal counsel to obtain a divorce. Respondent did not respond to inquiries from Solesbee and provided little representation to his client. Following the interim suspension, Respondent did not properly notify Solesbee. Solesbee filed a letter of complaint with the Commission on Lawyer Conduct and Respondent failed to respond to the subsequent inquiries and investigation.