Opinion ID: 1347088
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Sylvia Moore

Text: Sylvia Moore retained Hardison in 1988 to represent her in a medical malpractice action, involving a missed diagnosis of three brain aneurysms. Hardison delayed filing the claim until April 26, 1990. The defendant doctors were dismissed with prejudice because of Hardison's failure to answer discovery. Hardison testified before the Board that he was unable to find a medical expert who would testify on Ms. Moore's behalf. When Hardison consented to the dismissal of the malpractice action in 1992, he was given leave to file a memorandum within two weeks to persuade the court to permit him to amend the complaint against the hospital for wrongful discharge (the hospital was also Ms. Moore's employer). Neither the memorandum nor any amended pleadings were filed. His client was not informed he had not filed a wrongful discharge action against the employer. On May 2, 1994, Ms. Moore notified Hardison that she wanted to pick up her file on May 13, 1994 at 1:00 p.m. Ms. Moore traveled from Summersville to Beckley on that date, and when she arrived at Hardison's office, she was told the file was not ready, but it would be sent to her in portions as it was copied. On May 15, 1994, Ms. Moore wrote to the West Virginia State Bar concerning the matter. On June 1, 1994, Hardison represented to disciplinary counsel that he had hired temporary help to make copies of the file and would make arrangements to send it to Ms. Moore. Hardison finally mailed Ms. Moore her file on July 14, 1994. The Board concluded Hardison violated Rule 1.4(a) (Communication) and Rule 1.16(d) (Declining or terminating representation) of the Rules of Professional Conduct. Rule 1.4(a) states, A lawyer shall keep a client reasonably informed about the status of a matter and promptly comply with reasonable requests for information. Rule 1.16 states: (d) Upon termination of representation, a lawyer shall take steps to the extent reasonably practicable to protect a client's interests, such as giving reasonable notice to the client, allowing time for employment of other counsel, surrendering papers and property to which the client is entitled and refunding any advance payment of fee that has not been earned. The lawyer may retain papers relating to the client to the extent permitted by other law. The ODC does not contest this finding.