Opinion ID: 2637589
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Representation of Joy Griggs

Text: ¶ 22 Joy Griggs was another bankruptcy client of Respondent who was referred to him by Ray Armbruster, after receiving correspondence from WPA regarding a threat of mortgage foreclosure on her home. Griggs and her father met with Respondent on October 4, 1999, and she paid him a $1060.00 retainer to file a bankruptcy action on her behalf. Respondent assured her she would keep her home and informed her that a Chapter 13 reorganization would allow her to become current on her mortgage payments and the arrearage, and thereby retain her residence. ¶ 23 On October 6, 1999, Respondent filed a Chapter 13 bankruptcy on behalf of Griggs in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Arizona. On November 16, 1999, Chase Mortgage Company, who held the mortgage on Griggs' residence, filed an objection, to which Respondent never filed a response. ¶ 24 Respondent advised Griggs she needed to attend a Section 341 hearing on November 17, 1999, and that he would be in attendance. However, Respondent failed to appear and did not inform the court or his client he would not appear. Griggs proceeded with the Section 341 hearing without the benefit of legal counsel. Following the missed hearing, Griggs attempted to contact Respondent many times, calling him several times a day for several days. She estimated she left ten to twenty messages Respondent failed to acknowledge. ¶ 25 On February 18, 2000, the U.S. Trustee filed a recommendation directing the Respondent to take action responsive to the concerns raised by Chase Mortgage Company. The recommendation warned that if compliance with the Trustee's recommendation and an order confirming plan were not received by March 15, 2000, the Trustee would lodge an Order of Dismissal with the court. This recommendation was mailed to both Respondent and Griggs. Respondent called Griggs and requested she provide him with various income and financial documents he had not previously requested. On March 3, 2000, Griggs provided the requested documentation (approximately ten days after it was requested by the Respondent.) However, Respondent never filed a response to the Trustee's Recommendations. ¶ 26 On April 10, 2000, Respondent telephoned Griggs to inform her the U.S. Trustee recommended dismissal of her bankruptcy and it would be necessary to re-file. He told Griggs he had written the court a letter about his delay in responding to the court's demand for more documentation, but the court had ignored his letter. After a request from Respondent, Griggs delivered documentation to his office on April 12, 2000. In her testimony, Griggs stated she provided duplicate documentation to Respondent a minimum of three times. At this meeting on April 12, 2000, Respondent informed Griggs he could no longer represent her due to a conflict of interest. The following day, Respondent telephoned Griggs and said her house would be up for sale on April 25. She has not heard from Respondent since. ¶ 27 On April 26, 2000, an order was entered dismissing Griggs' bankruptcy because Respondent never provided the requested documentation. Griggs was prejudiced by Respondent's misconduct. She lost her residence in foreclosure proceedings, and she and her children were forced to move in with her father.