Opinion ID: 1167668
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: The Truitt Matter

Text: In February 1984, Dr. Robert Truitt retained petitioner to represent him against criminal charges of driving under the influence. Truitt paid petitioner $350 as an advance on attorney fees. Truitt understood from petitioner's representations that his personal appearances at several hearings in court would not be necessary and would be handled by petitioner. Petitioner appeared on Truitt's behalf at the arraignment and the matter was set for a pretrial hearing. Petitioner failed to appear at the pretrial hearing, however, and as a result a bench warrant was issued for Truitt's arrest. When Truitt received notice of the warrant he called petitioner, who stated that he did not understand why it was issued and would have the matter corrected. Petitioner subsequently had the bench warrant recalled and a new pretrial hearing was scheduled. As a result of petitioner's failure to appear at the rescheduled hearing, however, another bench warrant issued for Truitt's arrest. [10] When Truitt learned of the new warrant, he called petitioner, who stated that it should not have been issued and that he would have the matter corrected. Later, after several unsuccessful attempts to contact petitioner, Truitt retained another attorney to handle the matter. The State Bar Court found that petitioner committed acts of moral turpitude by misrepresenting to Truitt that he did not know why the warrants had issued; that he wilfully failed to perform the acts for which he had been retained and abandoned his client; that Truitt's discharge of petitioner and retention of another attorney was justified; and that petitioner did not earn any of the fees he had been paid in advance. By his conduct, the State Bar Court found that petitioner wilfully violated rule 6-101(A)(2) and sections 6068 and 6106.