Opinion ID: 4910552
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Failure to Cooperate with the OBA's Investigation and Breach of Diversion Program Agreement

Text: ¶7 Fields did not respond to Dillman's grievance, although the OBA requested a response on two separate occasions and gave Fields an additional five working days to submit one. In August 2017, the OBA began a formal investigation and again requested on two separate occasions that Fields respond to the grievance. Fields did not submit a response. ¶8 An OBA investigator called Fields on two separate occasions and left messages requesting that Fields return his call. Fields did not respond to those calls. The OBA then obtained a Subpoena Duces Tecum for the deposition of Fields, along with a request for him to produce bank records and the Estate of Barbara Jean Dillman file. In February 2018, Fields appeared at the deposition, produced some of the requested documents, and submitted a written response to the grievance. At the conclusion of the deposition, the OBA requested additional documentation from Fields, which he agreed to provide. The OBA investigator attempted to follow up with Fields multiple times regarding the status of the additional documents. In June 2018, Fields sent the OBA the additional documents, four months after the OBA's request. ¶9 In September 2018, the OBA presented Fields's case to the Professional Responsibility Commission, and the Commission referred Fields to the Attorney Diversion Program for a one-year probation pursuant to RGDP Rule 5.1. 3 In October 2018, Fields and the OBA entered into a Diversion Program Agreement, which mandated that Fields attend certain classes and pay the costs associated with the program. It also required Fields to reimburse the OBA for the cost of his deposition. Fields failed to abide by any of the terms of the agreement. He also did not keep in contact with the program monitors or respond to emails, letters, or calls from the OBA. ¶10 On March 20, 2020, the OBA filed a formal Complaint against Fields setting forth one count of professional misconduct for the handling of the Estate of Barbara Jean Dillman and one count of professional misconduct for failure to cooperate in the OBA's investigation and breach of the Diversion Program Agreement. ¶11 The OBA properly served Fields with notice of the Complaint. Fields did not file an answer, and on June 3, 2020, the OBA filed a Motion to Deem Allegations Admitted under RGDP Rule 6.4. Fields did not respond to the motion. On June 9, 2020, the Trial Panel held a hearing, and Fields did not appear. The Trial Panel deemed the allegations in the Complaint admitted. The Trial Panel proceeded to hear evidence to recommend what discipline to impose on Fields. The Trial Panel found by clear and convincing evidence that Fields violated ORPC Rules 1.15, 4 8.1(b), 5 8.4(a) and (d), 6 as well as a violation of RGDP Rules 1.3 7 and 5.2. 8 The Trial Panel recommended that this Court suspend Fields for two years and one day and require him to repay the Estate of Barbara Jean Dillman the attorney's fees he received without the probate court's approval.