Opinion ID: 2634770
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Complaint of Daniel Markowitz (DA8699)

Text: On August 19, 2002, William Humbird retained the respondent to represent him in a child support action and paid the respondent $500 for attorney fees. Mr. Humbird lives in Illinois. A hearing was scheduled for September 17, 2002. Prior to the September 17, 2002, hearing, the respondent assured Mr. Humbird that she would appear in his behalf and that he did not need to appear. However, she failed to appear in court on September 17, 2002. Mr. Humbird called the respondent numerous times to determine the outcome of the hearing. The respondent failed to return his calls. However, on September 19, 2002, Mr. Humbird was able to reach the respondent. She falsely told Mr. Humbird that she attended the hearing, that the hearing went well, and that the court took the matter under advisement. Because no one appeared in behalf of Mr. Humbird, the hearing officer entered a default ruling against Mr. Humbird and recommended that the court increase his child support obligation. Shortly thereafter, Mr. Humbird contacted the Johnson County Trustee's office and learned that the respondent had not appeared at the hearing, that the matter had not been taken under advisement, that the hearing officer had entered a default ruling against Mr. Humbird, and that the case was forwarded to Judge Leben for entry of an order increasing child support. On September 25, 2002, Mr. Humbird called Daniel J. Markowitz, an attorney practicing in Overland Park and explained the situation. On that same date, Mr. Markowitz entered his appearance in the child support case. On September 26, 2002, Mr. Markowitz wrote to the respondent, set out Mr. Humbird's accusations in summary form, and demanded that she return Mr. Humbird's retainer. On September 30, 2002, Mr. Markowitz received a letter from the respondent with a certified check in the amount of $500 payable to Mr. Humbird. On October 9, 2002, the court entered its Journal Entry of Judgment regarding this matter. Thereafter, on October 21, 2002, Mr. Markowitz filed a motion to set aside judgment. On October 16, 2002, Mr. Markowitz filed a complaint with the Disciplinary Administrator's office regarding the respondent. Thomas J. Bath, Jr. was assigned to investigate the complaint. At the time, Jonathan Becker was representing the respondent regarding the disciplinary complaints and filed a written response on her behalf. On December 2, 2002, Mr. Bath wrote to the respondent, acknowledged receipt of the response from Mr. Becker, and requested that she provide a written response to the complaint. Additionally, Mr. Bath requested that her response include certain information. The respondent failed to provide a written response to the initial complaint and failed to provide the specific information requested by Mr. Bath. On January 31, 2003, Mr. Bath again wrote to the respondent requesting that she comply with his requests made on December 2, 2002. Again, the respondent failed to respond or comply with Mr. Bath's requests.