Opinion ID: 2330653
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Count IMcCluskey

Text: ¶ 11 McCluskey hired Townsend to represent him in a personal injury matter after being involved in a car accident. When settlement attempts failed, the attorney filed a lawsuit. Things appear to have proceeded routinely until December 4, 2008 when the cause was set for disposition regarding a trial date. Townsend did not appear and failed to respond to later filed motions or to inquiries from his client. In February of 2009, the cause was dismissed without prejudice. Although McCluskey was successful in obtaining new counsel, he was left with several outstanding medical bills causing him significant financial hardship. Townsend recognized McCluskey's complaints were valid and expressed remorse for the difficulties and frustrations he caused his client and the client's family. He acknowledged that his conduct did not meet professional standards by failing to appear at the scheduled hearing, not diligently prosecuting his client's case, neglecting to keep his client informed, and failing to respond to Bar inquiries in a timely fashion.