Opinion ID: 1297972
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Miscellaneous Billing

Text: Respondent testified she would randomly pick a client to bill the Lexis subscription rate of $26.25 each month. She testified she billed this fee as an overhead item. Respondent also testified Lexis was not used to research for these clients. Clearly, respondent should not have charged an overhead item to a client; particularly an overhead item from which the client received absolutely no benefit. Respondent's billing practice relieves her of the necessity of maintaining her office from her contingent fee, and the charges to the account by respondent constitute a fee. Kentucky Bar Ass'n v. Graves, 556 S.W.2d 890, 891 (Ky.1977). Respondent also billed clients $50.00 for the $35.00 process service fee. She justified this practice by stating she reviewed the process. Respondent also argues both of these billing practices were fair because she did not always charge her clients for other items. She points to several No Charge items on clients' bills. We do not think respondent can justify this billing practice by stating in the long run she did not overcharge her clients and, therefore, they were not financially harmed by it. We find respondent improperly charged these items to her clients. Respondent was also accused of doubling a court reporter's bill. Although the Panel failed to find respondent had billed a client $136.00 for a $68.00 court reporter's bill, we agree the Executive Committee's finding of misconduct. Respondent testified she did not know why the bill had been doubled, but speculated she charged for two transcripts. There was a note written in respondent's hand writing on the reporter's bill which stated: please pay this but bill client's account $136.00. We agree there is clear and convincing evidence to support a finding respondent improperly charged her client twice the amount of the bill.