Opinion ID: 2602259
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Count I, Lee Complaint

Text: ¶ 4 The first complaint was brought by Tabitha Lee whom Respondent represented in an uncontested divorce. Ms. Lee's mother paid the Respondent a retainer of $800.00 for his services in the divorce case. Respondent did not obtain a written contact for his services. After the divorce was granted, Respondent refused to file the decree because he claimed Ms. Lee owed him additional attorney fees. Ms. Lee refused to pay the additional fees maintaining the initial $800.00 payment was her total fee. Respondent placed the unfiled decree in his filing cabinet thinking, according to his testimony, that Ms. Lee would pay the fees within a week or two and that he would then file the decree. Ms. Lee never paid the additional fees and Respondent temporarily forgot about the unfiled divorce decree. However, Ms. Lee contacted Respondent several times thereafter requesting a file-stamped copy of her divorce decree. Respondent informed her that she would not receive the decree until the balance of her attorney fees was paid in full. ¶ 5 In October 2000, Ms. Lee contacted Respondent and told him she had contacted the OBA to inquire about filing a grievance. Respondent then met with Ms. Lee and provided her a filed-stamped copy of her divorce decree. Respondent also waived further attorney fees. By the time Respondent filed the divorce decree, a period of twenty-seven months had elapsed from the date the divorce was granted. ¶ 6 Ms. Lee reviewed the decree and discovered, by its terms, that child support was payable on the first day of the month following the filing of the decree rather than at the time the divorce was granted. To correct this deficiency, Respondent hired another attorney to file a nunc pro tunc decree. ¶ 7 Ms. Lee filed a formal complaint with the OBA. The OBA contacted Respondent who fully cooperated in the investigation of the complaint. The parties have stipulated that Respondent's actions violated the following rules: Rules 1.1 (competence), 1.2 (scope of representation), 1.3 (diligence) of the ORPC and Rule 1.3 (acts contrary to prescribed standards of conduct) of the RGDP. ¶ 8 Professional competence  acting promptly and diligently on a matter  is a mandatory obligation imposed upon attorneys. State ex rel. Oklahoma Bar Ass'n v. Johnston, 1993 OK 91, 863 P.2d 1136, 1145. Anything less is a breach of a lawyer's duty to serve his client. Id. We agree the evidence establishes, by a clear and convincing standard, that Respondent failed to act with reasonable competence, diligence and promptness in representing Ms. Lee in violation of Rules 1.1 and 1.3, ORPC. Such actions by Respondent were contrary to prescribed standards of conduct and are grounds for discipline under Rule 1.3, RGDP. ¶ 9 We further find Respondent violated Rule 1.2, ORPC, which imposes upon attorneys a duty to abide by a client's decisions concerning the objectives of representation. The scope of Respondent's representation was clear  to obtain a divorce and file the decree. Ms. Lee consistently requested a copy of the filed divorce decree. Respondent refused. When comparing Respondent's conduct with the duties imposed on him, we agree the evidence establishes, by a clear and convincing standard, that his actions violated Rule 1.2. Such actions by Respondent were contrary to prescribed standards of conduct and are grounds for discipline under Rule 1.3, RGDP.