Opinion ID: 2283496
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: buckley complaint

Text: The respondent was retained by Kim Buckley in April 1977 to represent her with regard to a divorce action on her behalf. An initial retainer of $110 was paid by the complainant to the respondent who agreed to represent the complainant. On May 15, 1977 complainant paid the balance of $290 for her divorce. The respondent caused a complaint to be filed on May 31, 1978, but never caused a Summons to issue and thereby permitted the Complaint to be dismissed for lack of prosecution. At a formal hearing before the Committee held on September 3, 1980 respondent claimed that service had been difficult in this matter since complainant's husband moved out of state. Complainant testified, however, that she promptly supplied the respondent with her husband's change of address. The Committee concluded that the respondent failed to communicate with the client and notwithstanding numerous inquiries by the complainant the respondent did not advise the complainant of the status of the case and specifically failed to advise her of the dismissal thereof for lack of prosecution. In addition, he failed to properly carry out his contract of employment with his client by permitting the case to be dismissed for lack of prosecution.