Opinion ID: 2096988
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The K.M. Matter (Counts 8 through 10).

Text: ¶ 63 On July 31, 2003, K.M. retained Attorney Nunnery to represent her on appeal of claims she had filed with the Equal Rights Division (ERD) of the Department of Workforce Development alleging race discrimination and sexual harassment. The referee concluded that Attorney Nunnery's representation of K.M. gave rise to three counts of professional misconduct: Count 8: Former SCR 20:1.2(a); Scope of Representation. Count 9: Former SCR 20:1.4(a); Communication. Count 10: Former SCR 20:1.4(b); Communication ¶ 64 The referee found that in October 2003 K.M. attempted to contact Attorney Nunnery to find out when they would meet to prepare for an ERD hearing scheduled for November 5, 2003. He did not return her calls. On November 3, 2003, Attorney Nunnery filed a notice of withdrawal and dismissal of K.M.'s ERD cases. He did not copy K.M. on the notice of withdrawal and dismissal or discuss it with her and did not have her permission to dismiss her complaint. After receiving a letter from ERD regarding dismissal of her cases, K.M. spoke with Attorney Nunnery, who advised that the ERD letter was an error and would need correction. ¶ 65 In a January 2004 meeting, Attorney Nunnery did not mention to K.M. he had dismissed the ERD cases. In February 2004 K.M. contacted Attorney Nunnery because she had received a right to sue letter. Attorney Nunnery responded that she need not worry about the letter and he would take care of it. He did not advise K.M. of her rights and obligations related to the right to sue letter nor did he advise that he believed her case lacked merit. ¶ 66 In May 2004 Attorney Nunnery informed K.M. that if she called him one more time or sent any other correspondence, he would drop her case and return her retainer. In September 2004 K.M. sent Attorney Nunnery a memo regarding communication gaps in her case. He did not respond. ¶ 67 In August 2005 Attorney Nunnery and K.M. met for a final time during which Attorney Nunnery told K.M. her case lacked merit. A few days later, K.M. received her files from Attorney Nunnery along with a $750 refund of her retainer. K.M. was unaware until September 2005 that Attorney Nunnery had dismissed her ERD claims, and also learned then that the time limits to file a lawsuit had expired. The referee concluded that these facts supported counts 8 through 10.