Opinion ID: 1582923
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The Wesley Matter

Text: In June 2004, DeWanda Perry Wesley purchased a used car from a dealership in the Monroe area, financing the purchase through Crescent Bank and Trust (Crescent). The car began having mechanical problems almost immediately after the purchase and stopped functioning altogether in early September 2004. As such, on November 15, 2004, Ms. Wesley consulted respondent about any legal remedies she may have, paying him a $45 consultation fee. In December 2004, respondent met with Ms. Wesley and sent the car dealership a demand letter, demanding repayment of the car's purchase price. Both respondent and Ms. Wesley understood that respondent would not charge her a fee to handle the matter. In the meantime, Ms. Wesley stopped paying her car note and was sued by Crescent. On June 1, 2005, the trial court granted summary judgment in favor of Crescent Bank. At about the same time, Ms. Wesley personally spoke with respondent, and he reminded her that he needed $195 for court costs before he could file anything on her behalf in response to the Crescent lawsuit. [1] On June 16, 2005, Ms. Wesley paid respondent the requested $195. Nevertheless, respondent did not file any pleading on behalf of Ms. Wesley until May 1, 2006, at which time he filed a third-party demand against the car dealership, the salesman, and the extended warranty provider. In 2007, Crescent obtained a judgment to garnish Ms. Wesley's wages. When Ms. Wesley had trouble contacting respondent about the garnishment, she filed a disciplinary complaint against him. Thereafter, respondent advised Ms. Wesley to seek new counsel and returned her file. The ODC alleged that respondent's conduct violated the following provisions of the Rules of Professional Conduct: Rules 1.2 (scope of the representation), 1.3 (failure to act with reasonable diligence and promptness in representing a client), 1.4 (failure to communicate with a client), 1.5(b) (the scope of the representation and the basis or rate of the fee and expenses for which the client will be responsible shall be communicated to the client), 3.2 (failure to make reasonable efforts to expedite litigation), and 8.4(a) (violation of the Rules of Professional Conduct).