Opinion ID: 1205832
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: second cause: the scheppler matter

Text: In November 1982, the accused agreed to assist a Washington lawyer, Gregory L. Lutcher, in the registration and collection of a Washington judgment involving a Medford, Oregon, debtor. Mrs. Scheppler, the Washington creditor, forwarded a $150 retainer fee to the accused, through Mr. Lutcher. Between November 1982 and May 1983, the accused made no effort to communicate with either Mrs. Scheppler or Mr. Lutcher. He also neglected to return Mr. Lutcher's telephone calls. In May 1983, Mr. Lutcher sent a letter advising the accused that, if he were unable to assist Mrs. Scheppler, he should notify Mr. Lutcher so that new counsel could be retained. The letter also requested an accounting of the $150. When the accused failed to respond, Mr. Lutcher sent a second letter attaching a copy of a letter of inquiry from Mrs. Scheppler. Mrs. Scheppler asked that the $150 be returned so that she could hire other counsel. Again, the accused failed to respond. In July 1983, Mr. Lutcher sent a final letter giving the accused 10 days to respond. When there was no response, Mr. Lutcher notified the Bar. The accused was charged with four violations of the Code of Professional Responsibility: DR 6-101(A)(3), supra; DR 7-101(A)(2), supra; and DR 9-102(B)(3) and (B)(4), which provided: [6] A lawyer shall: Maintain complete records of all funds, securities, and other properties of a client coming into the possession of the lawyer and render appropriate accounts to his client regarding them. Promptly pay or deliver to the client as requested by a client the funds, securities, or other properties in the possession of the lawyer which the client is entitled to receive. The accused admitted, and the trial panel found, that the first three violations had occurred. The accused does not admit violation of DR 9-102(B)(4); he argues that he is entitled to the $150 payment made by Mrs. Scheppler. He testified that his hourly rate was $75 and that he spent two hours driving to Grants Pass to pick up the file and reviewing the procedure for registration of a foreign judgment. He admits that he never communicated with the judgment debtor or registered the foreign judgment. On de novo review, we are unable to determine from the record whether the understanding in respect of the fee between the accused and Mrs. Scheppler (through Mr. Lutcher) was a true retainer fee or an advance in contemplation of future services. For a discussion, see Oregon State Bar Ethics Opinion No. 205 (1972), withdrawn by Board of Governors (1972), and No. 251 (1973). In his testimony, the accused acknowledged: I can't honestly, I can't say that the fee was earned. Nevertheless, if the understanding called for a retainer fee, the failure of the accused to perform sufficient work for the client would not necessarily result in an ethical violation upon the failure to return the fee. We are unable to find by clear and convincing evidence that the accused violated DR 9-102(B)(4).