Opinion ID: 1377729
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 9

Heading: Count VIIIKathryn Powers

Text: Keenan originally represented the complainant Kathryn Powers in a 1994 divorce action. By order dated September 26, 1994, Ms. Powers' ex-husband was ordered to make monthly alimony payments of $100.00 for 3 years. He was also ordered to pay $1,200.00 to Ms. Powers as her share in his retirement funds. Sometime after the divorce order was entered, Ms. Powers remarried, and her ex-husband ceased making the alimony payments. Additionally, her ex-husband failed to pay Ms. Powers her share of his retirement. Ms. Powers consulted with Keenan in January 1996, and Keenan agreed to file a contempt petition on her behalf. Keenan requested and received a fee of $500.00. Keenan failed to file the petition for contempt. However, Ms. Powers' ex-husband filed a petition to modify the original divorce decree, seeking to end the payment of alimony. At the hearing on the ex-husband's petition to eliminate alimony on August 20, 1996, before a family law master, Keenan attempted to raise the contempt issue relating to the ex-husband's failure to pay certain monies to his former wife. However, the family law master would not permit Keenan to raise the contempt issue because it was not before the court. Between December of 1996 and May 1997, Ms. Powers attempted to call Keenan several times. Keenan did not return her phone calls, nor would he schedule an appointment to meet with her. On March 11, 1997, Ms. Powers sent Keenan a certified letter asking him to schedule a contempt hearing, or refund her money. Keenan did not respond to the letter. Ms. Powers filed an ethics complaint against Keenan, and on June 3, 1997, a copy of this complaint was sent to Keenan by the ODC along with instructions to reply to the complaint within 10 days. Keenan failed to timely respond to the request. The ODC sent a second request on September 10, 1997. On September 23, 1997, Keenan responded to the ethics complaint. The Board charged Keenan with violating Rule 1.4(a) [18] for failing to respond to his client, and with violating Rule 8.1(b) [19] for failing to respond to the Disciplinary Counsel in a timely manner. Keenan stipulated to the charges made by the Board. [20]