Opinion ID: 1167668
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Beattie Matter

Text: In September 1984, Harold Beattie retained petitioner to represent him against criminal charges of driving under the influence. Beattie paid petitioner $300 in advance on an agreed upon fee of $450. Petitioner agreed to appear on Beattie's behalf at a hearing in September. On the date in question, however, petitioner failed to appear. As a result, a bench warrant was issued for Beattie's arrest. Beattie later retained another attorney to represent him in the matter for a fee of $600, and wrote to petitioner demanding the return of the $300 he had advanced. Petitioner did not respond to the letter or return any portion of the fee. Beattie commenced an action in small claims court against petitioner and in January 1985, obtained a judgment for $300 plus costs. At the time of the disciplinary hearing in this matter, more than two years after the judgment, the judgment remained unsatisfied. The State Bar Court found that petitioner wilfully abandoned his client and wilfully failed to perform the services for which he had been retained. By his conduct, the State Bar Court concluded that petitioner violated rule 6-101(A)(2) and sections 6068 and 6103.