Opinion ID: 3175989
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Count I - The Posey Grievance

Text: ¶4 Complainant asserts Respondent violated Rules 1.1, 2 1.3, 3 3.2, 4 and 8.4(a) & (d), 5 ORPC, 5 O.S. 2011, Ch. 1, App. 3-A, and Rule 1.3, 6 RGDP, 5 O.S. 2011, Ch. 1, App. 1-A, in the course of representing a client, Harold R. Posey, III (Posey). On April 30, 2012, Posey was involved in an automobile collision in McClain County, Oklahoma. Posey's vehicle was struck by a motor vehicle owned by Ericka Smith, but being driven by Alan Dewitt Chappell, a suspected drunk driver who fled the scene of the accident. Posey suffered personal injuries and sustained property damage to his vehicle. After the collision, Posey was transported by ambulance to Norman Regional Health System for treatment. The record indicates the cost of Posey's treatment was $8,856. Exs. 3, 4, & 16. ¶5 On or about May 3, 2012, Posey hired Respondent to represent him for the purpose of recovering property damages and compensation for medical expenses resulting from the collision. By May 23, 2012, Respondent had negotiated property damages for Posey. However, after this it became increasingly difficult for Posey to communicate with Respondent. Posey testified at the hearing before the PRT that communication was sporadic in the first six months after the property damage settlement, and then became almost non-existent. Tr. 26-28. After Posey instructed Respondent to reject the initial settlement offer for medical expenses, Posey became essentially unable to contact Respondent and Respondent failed to provide Posey with any updates regarding his case. Tr. 27. In order to explain his lack of communication, Respondent asked questions of Posey at the hearing illustrating that Posey and Respondent agreed to wait and file suit near the end of the allowable time period in order to see if there was any further deterioration in Posey's condition before the suit was filed, and that Respondent asked Posey to let him know if his condition changed. Tr. 35-36. This was also Respondent's recollection of his plan concerning Posey's case. Tr. 93 ¶6 Respondent testified that he became aware, three to four months before the statute of limitations cutoff that a settlement would not be possible and he would need to file a lawsuit. Tr. 128-29. On May 1, 2014, Respondent filed a civil suit on behalf of Posey seeking in excess of $10,000, styled Harold Ray Posey, III v. Alan Dewitt Chappell and Ericka Kathleen Smith , McClain County District Court, Case No. CJ-2014-72. Ex. 6. Respondent filed this suit one day after the two-year statute of limitations had run on April 30, 2014. The defendants to the suit filed special appearances and motions to dismiss, citing the failure to file the matter within the time prescribed by the statute of limitations. The court held hearings at which Respondent did not appear, and dismissed Posey's petition. Ex. 6. ¶7 After experiencing rising frustration and lack of communication, Posey terminated Respondent's services in late 2014 and requested a copy of his file. Posey testified that it took him some time to obtain a copy of his file from Respondent, but he was finally able to do so sometime in December, 2014 or January, 2015. Tr. 28-29. After obtaining his file, Posey called the insurance company to check on the status of his medical claim and learned, for the first time, that a lawsuit had been filed and subsequently dismissed because of Respondent's failure to file within the statute of limitations. Tr. 29. The following exchange occurred while Posey was being questioned by the PRT: Q: And do I understand your testimony correctly, Mr. Posey, that you did not understand that, number one, a lawsuit had been filed, and number two, a lawsuit had been dismissed, until you talked to the insurance company? A: That is correct. Tr. 60. ¶8 Respondent, over the course of his representation of Posey: 1) failed to communicate with Posey despite Posey's repeated attempts to contact Respondent; 2) failed to keep Posey updated concerning the status of his case; 3) failed to file Posey's lawsuit until after the statute of limitations had run; and 4) failed to timely provide Posey's file after Posey had terminated his services and requested it be returned to him. Clear and convincing evidence exists in the record before this Court that Respondent violated Rules 1.1, 1.3, 3.2, and 8.4(a) & (d), ORPC, 5 O.S. 2011, Ch. 1, App. 3-A, and Rule 1.3, RGDP, 5 O.S. 2011, Ch. 1, App. 1-A, over the course of his representation of Posey.