Opinion ID: 1188922
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: Excessive Fee

Text: DR 2-106(A) provides: A lawyer shall not enter into an agreement for, charge or collect an illegal or clearly excessive fee. The trial panel found that the accused violated DR 2-106(A) because there can be no question but that a fee is excessive when it includes charges for documents which are known to be invalid. We agree with the trial panel's determination. In In re Gastineau, 317 Or. 545, 551, 857 P.2d 136 (1993), this court held that a lawyer violates DR 2-106(A) when he or she collects a nonrefundable fee, does not perform or complete the professional representation for which the fee was paid, but fails promptly to remit the unearned portion of the fee. Here, the accused charged his clients a fee for the performance of certain services, including the preparation and execution of a valid will and a valid directive to physicians. The accused intentionally failed to provide his clients with the valid documents for which they had paid. The accused intentionally charged clients for services that he knew he would not provide. [7] Accordingly, the fee was excessive and the accused violated DR 2-106(A). See also In re Thomas, 294 Or. 505, 526, 659 P.2d 960 (1983) (It would appear that any fee that is collected for services that is not earned is clearly excessive regardless of the amount.).