Opinion ID: 2534822
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: The Blanchard Matter

Text: Respondent is not registered as a patent attorney and therefore cannot represent applicants before the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Nevertheless, in June 2002, respondent collected $750 from Trohn Peter Blanchard in connection with a patent matter. During the course of the representation, respondent failed to adequately communicate with Mr. Blanchard. When he was discharged by Mr. Blanchard, respondent refunded $600 of Mr. Blanchard's $750 fee, and failed to return Mr. Blanchard's file to him. Respondent also failed to cooperate with the ODC in its investigation of the complaint filed against him by Mr. Blanchard, necessitating the issuance of a subpoena to compel his sworn statement. In December 2003, the ODC filed the formal charges in 03-DB-084. The ODC alleged respondent's conduct in the Blanchard matter violated the following provisions of the Rules of Professional Conduct: Rules 1.1(a), 1.2(a), 1.4, 1.5(a), 1.5(f)(6) (failure to refund an unearned fee), 1.15, 1.16(a) (declining or terminating the representation of a client), 1.16(d), 8.1(c), 8.4(a), 8.4(c), and 8.4(g). In January 2004, respondent answered the formal charges and denied any misconduct. The matter was then set for a hearing before the hearing committee, which was conducted in March 2004. The hearing committee issued its report in December 2006, finding that some, but not all, of the alleged rule violations were proven by clear and convincing evidence and recommending respondent be suspended from the practice of law for one year, with all but thirty days deferred. The committee further recommended respondent refund $150 to Mr. Blanchard, that respondent enroll in Ethics School, and that a practice monitor be appointed to supervise his law practice.