Opinion ID: 2318844
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Facts Relevant to Ms. Braswell

Text: 1. On 11 January 1995, Shantrice Braswell, a pedestrian, was struck by a car driven by Myrtle Weissberg in a hit and run accident. Ms. Braswell was a minor at the time of the accident. [8] 2. Respondent was retained by Tammy Braswell, Shantrice's mother, on her behalf. Respondent had previously represented Mrs. Braswell in another matter. 3. On 12 January 1995, Respondent obtained the name and address of the defendant from the Motor Vehicle Administration based on a license plate number provided by an unidentified witness to the accident. 4. In January 1995, the defendant's insurance company, CNA, contacted Respondent and acknowledged representation of the defendant. Respondent did not make a demand to the insurance company, but the insurance company offered $1,000.00 to Ms. Braswell. 5. Ms. Braswell received medical treatment from 13 January 1995 until February 1995 for soft tissue injuries received in the accident. Respondent received copies of those medical records on 13 August 1996. Respondent made a claim for PIP more than one year after the accident occurred due to the fact that he did not have the plaintiff's medical records. There are no records of written or oral communication by the Respondent requesting the necessary medical records. 6. On 3 November 1997, a complaint was filed in the District Court of Maryland sitting in Baltimore City. The defendant filed a notice of intention to defend on 22 December 1997 through her attorney, Mary G. Weidner, Esquire, and mailed interrogatories to Respondent. A trial date was set for 2 February 1998. 7. Defense counsel contacted Respondent on 26 January 1998 regarding not having received the answers to interrogatories. Respondent, the following day, filed a motion requesting a postponement of the trial date, which was granted. The trial date was rescheduled for 8 June 1998. 8. On 9 February 1998, defense counsel, again, contacted Respondent regarding the missing answers to interrogatories. At this time, Respondent explained that he had been unable to meet with his client to answer the interrogatories. 9. Defense counsel filed a Motion for Sanctions against Respondent for failure to provide discovery on 12 February 1998. Respondent did not file a response to that motion. At the hearing on this matter, Respondent testified that Mrs. Braswell missed an appointment to answer the interrogatories. Respondent cited the missed appointment as the reason the interrogatories were not answered. Respondent did not reschedule the appointment, nor did he mail the interrogatories to Mrs. Braswell to answer, claiming it was his practice to meet with the client to go over the interrogatories. 10. On 8 June 1998, Respondent failed to appear for the trial and the case was dismissed with prejudice. 11. Respondent filed a motion to strike the judgment on 8 July 1998, which was denied. Respondent filed an appeal in the Circuit Court for Baltimore City on 21 August 1998. A hearing was held on 31 March 1999. On 12 April 1999, an Order was signed vacating the dismissal with prejudice and further remanded the case to the District Court so that an order dismissing the case without prejudice could be entered. 12. Respondent sent a letter to Mrs. Braswell on 20 September 2000, explaining that the case was dismissed without prejudice and the statute of limitations would run on 7 July 2001, Ms. Braswell's twenty-first (21) birthday. The letter further explained that Ms. Braswell could refile the claim, but would need to hire a new attorney if she wished to pursue the matter further.