Opinion ID: 1199038
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: other acts of misconduct

Text: During the hearing, evidence was produced that respondent represented two clients, Haigler and White, without full disclosure to either of the possible conflicts of interest involved. Moreover, evidence indicated that respondent failed to adequately communicate with and advise his client, White, about the requirements of the court's order concerning the creation of a trust and the preservation of the funds for the benefit of the children. Respondent also failed to disclose to White that the court had ordered an attorneys fee in the amount of $3,850.00, rather than the $15,000.00 contingency fee White contracted to give him. We note that to date respondent has not remitted to White the difference between the contract fee and the court order fee. In his brief to this Court, he asserts White is satisfied with the $15,000.00 fee. However, no such evidence was presented to the trial panel, nor is such evidence a mitigating factor in view of the order of the court in the friendly suit. This additional evidence indicates that respondent may have committed acts of misconduct violative of the Rules of Professional Conduct Rule 1.4 concerning communication with clients and Rule 1.7 regarding conflicts of interest between clients. However, because respondent was unable to call White back to the witness stand to present rebuttal evidence on these charges, we decline to find that they were proven by clear and convincing evidence. Therefore, we will not consider these acts in our assessment of sanctions.