Opinion ID: 2361926
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Freeman.

Text: Evelyn Freeman retained Lopes in March 1994 in connection with her responsibilities as personal representative of a decedent's estate. The estate owned certain rental property, and Ms. Freeman sought Lopes' assistance in evicting tenants from the property for non-payment of rent and in securing a quitclaim deed. Ms. Freeman paid Lopes a retainer of $775, of which $600 represented advance payment for the eviction and $175 was intended to be compensation for obtaining the deed. Thereafter, Lopes rarely contacted his client, and he did not return her telephone calls. Ms. Freeman became increasingly disenchanted with Lopes' representation, and on October 31, 1994, she wrote a letter to Lopes in which she terminated the relationship and requested a refund of $175. Lopes told the Hearing Committee that he did not recall receiving Ms. Freeman's letter. During Bar Counsel's investigation, Lopes agreed to refund Ms. Freeman's entire legal fee, but he had not done so as of the date of the hearing. An ethical complaint arising out of Lopes' representation of Ms. Freeman was docketed on February 12, 1996. Bar Counsel mailed the complaint to Lopes on February 21, 1996, and requested a response by March 2, 1996. Lopes did not respond to the complaint. Lopes also ignored a subsequent follow-up letter from Bar Counsel, as well as Bar Counsel's eventual motion to compel and an order of the Board directing a response. Lopes ultimately submitted a response on September 3, 1996, more than half a year after the complaint had been mailed to him. Following several unsuccessful attempts by Bar Counsel to serve Lopes with a subpoena for his office file and to secure his cooperation, a process server succeeded in accomplishing service. As of the date of the Hearing Committee Report, Lopes had failed to comply with the subpoena.