Opinion ID: 2009876
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Heyen Matter

Text: In 1998, while Westby was suspended from the practice of law, Sheila Heyen contacted Westby by telephone regarding a child custody matter. At the referee's hearing, Heyen testified that Westby told her there was nothing she could do for Heyen because Heyen had not been served with a change of custody motion. Heyen was subsequently served and she and her second husband then met with Westby several times. Heyen and her second husband testified, and the referee found, that Westby did not tell them that she was suspended from the practice of law and could not represent Heyen. Heyen testified, and the referee found, that Westby obtained a continuance of the child custody hearing, discussed with Heyen evidence for the hearing, and drafted an affidavit for her signature. Heyen also issued a check for $500 to Westby to retain her as an attorney for the upcoming hearing. The referee found that Heyen did not sign a retainer agreement with Westby and that Westby deposited the $500 into her personal bank account. Heyen tried to contact Westby a few days before the custody hearing, but was not able to reach her until the evening before the hearing. That evening, Westby informed Heyen that she had been in the emergency room with a broken ankle and that she was going to have the hearing postponed. Heyen testified that at this point she no longer trusted Westby and went to Westby's home the next morning to collect her file. At that time, Westby offered to have Rowe represent Heyen at the hearing, but Heyen declined. Heyen then went to the hearing without counsel and the court rescheduled the hearing. Heyen later asked Westby for a refund of her $500 retainer and Westby issued a check for that amount. Heyen attempted to cash the check several times before it was honored. The referee concluded that Westby's conduct with respect to Heyen violated Minn. R. Prof. Conduct 1.4, 1.15(a), 5.5(a), 8.4(c), and 8.4(d) and Opinion 15.