Opinion ID: 2323004
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Strong

Text: On or about January 5, 2000, Paul Strong filed a complaint in the Circuit Court for Baltimore City naming Maryland General Health Systems, Incorporated; Maryland General Hospital; [physician] and several of the Hospital's staff physicians as defendants, Strong v. Maryland General Hospital, Case. No. 24-C-00-000055. Respondent was retained to represent the Hospital and [physician] and she filed an Answer to the Strong complaint on March 9, 2000. On or about January 25, 2000, Strong's counsel served a first request for production of documents on the Hospital and [physician]. Respondent failed to effectuate a timely response. On May 16, 2000 Strong's counsel served the Hospital and [physician] with Interrogatories and a Second Request for Production of Documents, to which Respondent failed to effectuate a timely response. Approximately ten months later, on January 24, 2001, a motion to compel and for sanctions was filed. Respondent failed to file an opposition. By Order dated February 25, 2001, the Hospital and [physician] were ordered to `fully respond to [Strong's Interrogatories] and produce all documents responsive to [Strong's] document requests within fifteen days of [that] Order' and it was further ordered that if the Hospital and [physician] failed to respond to Strong's discovery requests within fifteen days of that Order, the Court would enter a default judgment upon subsequent pleadings. Respondent did not provide answers to interrogatories nor produce documents on behalf of the Hospital and [physician]. With its ability to defend the Strong matter substantially impaired, the Hospital was forced to settle. Respondent's actions violated Maryland Rules of Professional Conduct 1.1, 1.3, 1.4, 3.2, 3.4(c)(d) and 8.4(a)(d).