Opinion ID: 1919646
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: Docket Number 306-84: Turnbow Complaint

Text: In October 1981, Ms. Alfred Turnbow had consulted a physician. In April 1982, she consulted Respondent concerning a possible medical malpractice claim against her physician. Respondent agreed to investigate the claim. He thereafter advised Ms. Turnbow to proceed with her case. On January 21, 1983, Ms. Turnbow gave Respondent a check in the amount of one hundred and seventy dollars ($170.00), which Respondent had requested as an advance against litigation expenses. Ms. Turnbow also provided Respondent with the originals of her medical records and other documents. Ms. Turnbow was unable to reach Respondent either by telephone or by visiting his office. She did see him by chance on the Howard University campus at which time he told her the case was proceeding. Specifically, he told her that he had filed suit and was waiting for a court date. Tr. 2 at 120-22. Ms. Turnbow became dissatisfied with Respondent, and in August 1983, she retained new counsel. Ms. Turnbow repeatedly requested that Respondent forward her papers to her. Respondent failed to do so. Tr. 2 at 127, 131-2. Bar Counsel charged Respondent with violations of DR 6-101(A)(3), neglect a legal matter entrusted to him; DR 1-102(A)(4), misrepresenting to his client that he had filed suit on her behalf when in fact he had not filed suit; and DR 9-103(B)(4), failure to return to his client her papers. The Hearing Committee found that Respondent had violated DR 6-101(A)(3) in that he was retained to file a suit on behalf of his client but failed to do so and failed to communicate with his client. The Hearing Committee properly rejected Respondent's contention that he did not believe his client had a case. Respondent's obligation was to pursue his client's case or to advise her that her case lacked any merit, in an effort to dissuade her from proceeding. If he was unsuccessful in persuading the client not to file suit, his ethical obligation was then to withdraw from the case. An attorney is not free to substitute his judgment for that of his client on such matters. See In re Stanton, 470 A.2d 281 (D.C.1983). The Hearing Committee further found that Respondent had violated DR 1-102(A)(4) in misrepresenting to the client the status of her case. See In re Reback, 513 A.2d 226 (D.C.1986) ( en banc ). We agree. Finally, the Hearing Committee found that Respondent had violated DR 2-110(A)(3) by failing to return documents to the client rather than DR 9-193(B)(4), which was the section charged by Bar Counsel in his petition. We affirm. As a matter of due process, Respondent had adequate notice as to what conduct Bar Counsel had charged was unethical. Moreover, the facts giving rise to the alleged violation of DR 2-110(A)(3) or 9-103(B)(4) are the same, and thus, Respondent had notice of the substance of the charge against him. Board Rule 7.18; see In re Ramos, 85-1644 (D.C. Sept. 16, 1986); In re Smith, 403 A.2d 296 (D.C.1979). [4]