Opinion ID: 1925404
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Ms Paulk

Text: Ms. Paulk was charged with stalking, telephone misuse, and harassment. On March 29, 2005, she signed a retainer agreement to have Ficker represent her with respect to those charges. The agreement called for a fee of $599, but no payment was made at that time. Paulk made an initial payment of $200 on June 18, and two days later, Ficker entered his appearance. Trial of the case had initially been set in the District Court in Hyattsville, Prince George's County, for May 18, but, at the State's request, it had been postponed to June 30. On May 6, the State sought and received another postponement, but, because, at the time, no appearance had been entered for the defendant, the case remained on the docket for June 30, in order to advise Ms. Paulk of her right to counsel. On June 28, Ms. Paulk paid the balance of the fee. Ficker had been on notice of the June 30 trial date and believed that would be the trial date. Nonetheless, neither he nor any associate from his office appeared on that day when Ms. Paulk's case was called. When Ms. Paulk, who was present, realized that Ficker was not there, she contacted him on his cell phone and was told that there must have been a misunderstanding as her case had not been entered on the firm's trial calendar. She was advised to seek a postponement, which apparently was granted. Ficker continued to represent her, and, in January, 2006, the case was nol prossed. The judge presiding on June 30 complained to Bar Counsel about Ficker's non-appearance. On these facts, Judge Debelius found a violation of MRPC 1.3 (Diligence) and 8.4(d) (Conduct prejudicial to the administration of Justice), but not 5.3 (Supervision of non-lawyer assistants). With respect to MRPC 1.3, the judge concluded that Ficker's lack of awareness of Paulk's June 30th court date due to the date not appearing on his firm's trial calendar, despite his two meetings with Paulk within two weeks of her court date and despite his listing the June 30th date on his Line of Appearance supports this court's finding that [Ficker] represented Paulk in a non-diligent manner. The MRPC 8.4(d) violation was based on a statement we made in Attorney Griev. Comm. v. Ficker, supra, 319 Md. at 315, 572 A.2d at 506, that [if] being later for a scheduled court appearance interferes with the administration of justice, it is obvious that being altogether absent from a scheduled trial does so as well.