Opinion ID: 2071683
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Theo Dylewski

Text: In October, 1987, Ms. Dylewski met Ficker in the lobby of the Holiday Inn in Frederick [1] and retained him to represent her in connection with a charge of driving while intoxicated. She paid him $100 toward a $650 fee but received neither a receipt nor a written retainer agreement. Trial was scheduled in the District Court in Frederick County for March 2, 1988; Ficker formally entered his appearance in November, 1987. Ms. Dylewski testified before the AGC Inquiry Panel that she called Ficker's office in late January or early February to advise that she would be in Florida on March 2 and to request that the trial be postponed. She thought that she spoke to Ficker himself and that he told her a postponement would not be a problem, but that, if it were, he would let her know. Ficker said that he had no recollection of speaking with Ms. Dylewski about a postponement. He testified that, a day or two before the trial date, his assistant Art Williams told him that Ms. Dylewski had called and said that she wanted to be in Florida on the day of trial. He had no recollection of speaking with Ms. Dylewski at that point but said that he probably tried to reach her. Mr. Williams, who was 81 when he testified in this matter in 1995, said that he had no recollection of Ms. Dylewski but asserted that he would never, on his own, advise a client of Ficker's that a postponement would be granted or that it was all right not to show up for trial. He acknowledged that one of his duties was to answer the telephone and take messages, and that, if a client called and said that she needed a postponement, he would tell Ficker about it. Ficker appeared in court on the trial date and orally requested a continuance, informing the court that his employee had informed him that his client wanted to be in Florida. He said that he did not file a motion in advance because (1) he had experienced difficulty in getting postponements in the District Court in Frederick, and (2) he had no idea of why she wasn't going to be in court or indeed if it was a sure thing that she wasn't going to be in court. When the prosecutor objected to a continuance, the court denied the request and issued a bench warrant for Ms. Dylewski. Ficker said that, upon returning to his office, he called the number he had for Ms. Dylewski and left a message with someone that a bench warrant had been issued. Ms. Dylewski testified that her first awareness of the warrant was on April 8, after she had returned from Florida, when her husband informed her that the State Police had been to her home to serve the warrant. She called Ficker, who advised her to surrender herself. Upon the advice of a District Court clerk, she wrote a letter to the judge explaining the circumstances, and, eventually, the warrant was withdrawn. Ms. Dylewski later retained other counsel. Ficker never refunded the $100. AGC charged Ficker with violations of MLRPC Rules 1.1 (requiring the provision of competent representation), 1.3 (requiring a lawyer to act with reasonable diligence and promptness), 1.4 (requiring a lawyer to keep a client reasonably informed about the status of a matter), 5.3 (requiring a lawyer to provide proper supervision over non-lawyer assistants), and 8.4(d) (engaging in conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice). On the evidence presented, Judge Ferretti said that he could not find by clear and convincing evidence that Ms. Dylewski spoke personally with Ficker when she called his office in January or February. He did find, however, that Ficker was informed of her request for a continuance at least three or four days before the scheduled trial date. Judge Ferretti concluded that, as a written request for a continuance might have been consented to by the State, by failing to file a motion for continuance at that time, Ficker did not act with reasonable diligence and promptness in representing Ms. Dylewski, in violation of MLRPC 1.3. He concluded further that, in failing to communicate with his client in a reasonably prompt manner, he also violated MLRPC 1.4(a) and 1.4(b). The court found no violation of MLRPC Rule 1.1 and no violations of MLRPC Rules 5.3 or 8.4(c), by not having a better management system in place or by not properly supervising Mr. Williams. Ficker filed exceptions to the court's findings and conclusions with respect to Rules 1.3 and 1.4. AGC excepted to the court's failure to find a violation of Rule 5.3. Ficker's exceptions hinge, essentially, on the assertion that there was no clear and convincing evidence that he was aware of Ms. Dylewski's plans or request until a day or two before trial and that, in light of that circumstance, it was reasonable for him to appear in court and move orally for a continuance rather than attempt to file a written motion. Judge Ferretti's finding that Ficker was aware of Ms. Dylewski's situation three or four days before trial is not supported by substantial evidence, he claims, and is therefore clearly erroneous. AGC, on the other hand, urges that, if Ficker did not know of his client's situation until three or four days before trial, that was because he did not have in place proper measures to assure that Mr. Williams would do his job properly, and that that failure constitutes a violation of Rule 5.3. Ficker's exceptions have merit and will therefore be sustained. With respect to Ficker's knowledge, the evidence before Judge Ferretti would have allowed either of two findings: (1) that Ms. Dylewski in fact spoke with Ficker in late January or early February and that he therefore knew at that point that she needed a postponement, or (2) that he did not learn of her situation until a day or two before trial. The one finding that is not allowed by the evidence is the one that Judge Ferretti madethat Ficker learned of the situation three or four days before trial. There was no evidence to support that finding. Judge Ferretti found insufficient evidence to conclude that Ms. Dylewski spoke personally with Ficker, thus leaving as the only viable alternative a conclusion that he did not become aware of her situation until the very eve of trial. On that premise, we do not believe (1) that, given his prior experiences in seeking postponements, it was unreasonable for Ficker to choose to appear in court and explain the situation personally to the judge, rather than filing a written motion, or (2) that, as a practical matter, Ficker would have been able to contact his client and assure her appearance in court. With respect to the postponement, it is not at all clear that a written motion filed a day or two before trial would have been successful or that the prosecutor would have consented to it. Simple courtesy and a decent respect for a fellow lawyer would, of course, have dictated that Ficker, even at that late date, call the State's Attorney's Office to alert them to the situation and to his intent to seek a postponement, but he has not been charged with being discourteous. As to communicating with his client, she was in Florida; he did not know where to reach her; and, when he called the one Maryland number he had upon his return from court, he had to leave a message with someone else. We find no merit in AGC's exception with respect to MLRPC Rule 5.3 in this matter. That rule provides, in relevant part, that a lawyer having direct supervisory authority over a non-lawyer shall make reasonable efforts to ensure that the non-lawyer's conduct is compatible with the professional obligations of the lawyer. AGC notes that, if Ms. Dylewski did not talk to Ficker, she spoke with Mr. Williams, among whose duties were answering the telephone and taking messages. Its position is that Ficker should have had in place some procedure to assure that Williams would, in a timely manner, relay any message he received from Ms. Dylewski. Judge Ferretti found that no tickler or calendaring system would have prevented the lapse in question. It was simply a matter of Mr. Williams apparently not timely relaying a call, which he acknowledged was his duty to do. There is no evidence in this record that that was a persistent problem with respect to Mr. Williams, and we are not prepared to conclude, on this record, that one missed communication, even though significant, constitutes a violation of MLRPC Rule 5.3.