Opinion ID: 2257566
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Complaint of Albert Jenkins

Text: Mr. Jenkins, who was incarcerated at the Montgomery County Detention Center, retained Respondent on August 6, 2003, to arrange bail for him and his friend, Thomas Shea. Mr. Jenkins executed a retainer agreement and also a Power of Attorney for Respondent to access Mr. Jenkins's Chevy Chase bank account. The Power of Attorney required notarization and, since Respondent was not a notary, he requested that his secretary, Ms. Tyner, notarize the document outside the presence of Mr. Jenkins. Ms. Tyner was not coerced into notarizing the document but did so using her own notarial discretion. Because Respondent was aware that Ms. Tyner was notarizing a document with the signatory absent, Respondent, as her supervisor, should have taken action to disallow it. Respondent's failure to so do is a violation of Rules 5.3(c) and 8.4. Mr. Jenkins gave Respondent permission, using the Power of Attorney, to withdraw $20,000 from Mr. Jenkins's bank account. The $20,000 was meant to pay for Respondent's flat fee of $5,000, $15,000 to secure Mr. Jenkins's release, and $500 for Mr. Shea's release. On August 7, 2003, Respondent withdrew $20,000 from Mr. Jenkins's account and obtained a $15,000 cashiers check for Main Street Bail Bonds. When Respondent realized that he would not have the $500 needed for Mr. Shea's release, Respondent, on August 8, 2003, redeposited the $15,000 back into Mr. Jenkins's account. Respondent then withdrew $2,000 in the form of a cashier's check and paid Main Street Bail Bonds for both Mr. Jenkins's and Mr. Shea's release. Mr. Jenkins was released on or about August 10, 2003. He discharged Respondent and requested that Respondent provide a statement for the retainer and refund sums not earned. In response to this request, Respondent sent Mr. Jenkins a statement, dated September 20, 2003, showing an additional $585.00 due over and above the $5,000 flat fee agreement. Respondent violated Rule 1.4 when he did not advise Mr. Jenkins of the problems he was having in arranging the bonds for his and Mr. Shea's release. Respondent did not violate Rule 1.1 because, even though he did not follow Mr. Jenkins's exact instructions, Respondent did accomplish the goal for which he was retained. Respondent's statement to collect $585.00 in excess of the flat fee agreement he had with Mr. Jenkins is a violation of Rule 1.5. Complaint of Daryl Lamont Torain On January 7, 2002, Mr. Torain retained Respondent to represent him in a District Court action brought by Maryland Apartment, Inc. involving a landlord-tenant matter. The trial was initially scheduled for February 11, 2002, but was postponed to May 6, 2002. Mr. Torain was notified of the initial trial date by the court; however, after Respondent entered his appearance in the case on January 28, 2002, Mr. Torain was not notified by the court of the postponement to May 6. Respondent requested a continuance of the case and notified Mr. Torain of his request by letter dated April 29, 2002, but also advised Mr. Torain that he should appear May 6. Even though Respondent did not receive a continuance of the May 6 date, he failed to communicate this to Mr. Torain. Since Respondent had to represent another client, Tyree Woodson, in the Circuit Court for Baltimore City on May 6, 2002, he arranged for a stand-in attorney to appear in District Court for Mr. Torain. Respondent also failed to communicate this arrangement to Mr. Torain. Mr. Torain did not show up on May 6, and, in his absence, Maryland Apartment, Inc., was granted a default judgment of $1,511.03. Mr. Torain only became aware of the judgment when he received a collection notice from Maryland Apartment, Inc. The default judgment against Mr. Torain was entered on May 6, 2002. Respondent filed a Motion to Vacate Judgment on October 24, 2002, incorrectly stating that Mr. Torain was in court on May 6. The Motion was denied because it was not timely filed. Respondent told Mr. Torain that he had followed up his April 29, 2002, letter to the court for a continuance with a telephone call on May 5, 2002, to the clerk at the District Court and was told that Mr. Torain's case had been continued. In his complaint to Petitioner, Mr. Torain charged that he had asked Respondent for copies of pleadings filed in his case but that Respondent did not provide them. In addition, Mr. Torain requested Respondent to refund the retainer fee of $300 and to pay for the default judgment. Respondent has paid Mr. Torain $1,000 as of the date of Bar Counsel's petition. Respondent was notified by letter dated February 12, 2003, of the pending complaints against him and his response was due within ten days. Respondent requested a 15-day extension on March 8, 2003, in order that he could serve as counsel for another client in a jury trial. A provisional extension was granted on March 12, 2003, provided that Respondent provide the case number and information on the duration of the jury trial. Instead of providing the requested information, Respondent answered Petitioner's initial letter and attached a copy of the Motion to Vacate Judgment in Mr. Torain's case which incorrectly stated that Mr. Torain was in court on May 6. Petitioner further expressed concern to Respondent regarding the discrepancy that Respondent was claiming to believe that Mr. Torain's case had been postponed but had, nevertheless, sent a stand-in attorney for the scheduled trial on May 6. Though Respondent was accused of violating MRPC Rule 8.1, in the Petition filed in this case which states: An applicant for admission or reinstatement to the bar, or a lawyer in connection with a bar admission application or in connection with a disciplinary matter, shall not: (a) knowingly make a false statement of material fact; or (b) fail to disclose a fact necessary to correct a misapprehension known by the person to have arisen in the matter, or knowingly fail to respond to a lawful demand for information from an admissions or disciplinary authority, except that this Rule does not require disclosure of information otherwise protected by Rule 1.6. Specifically, the Petition for Disciplinary Action stated that Respondent made misrepresentations to the investigator for Bar Counsel regarding Respondent's representation of Mr. Torain. Petitioner has elected to abandon the 8.1(b) claim against Respondent. This Court does not find [that Respondent violated Rule 8.1(a) or] that the Petitioner has proven by clear and convincing evidence any false statements of material fact made by Respondent. Petitioner did, however, present several instances of sloppiness and human errors in the documentation provided by the Respondent. The Court of Appeals has held that inexperience can be considered as a mitigating factor in determining sanctions of an attorney. Attorney Grievance Commission v. O'Neill, 285 Md. 52, 55-57, 400 A.2d 415 (1979). Respondent is accused of violating Rule 8.4 of the MRPC, which states; It is professional misconduct for a lawyer to: (a) violate or attempt to violate the rules of professional conduct, knowingly assist or induce another to do so, or do so through the acts of another; (c) engage in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation; (d) engage in conduct that is prejudicial to the administration of justice. Considering the totality of the conduct, this Rule was violated. By violating MRPC Rules 1.1, 1.3, 1.4, 3.3(a)(1), Respondent has violated the overall objective and purpose of MRPC 8.4. Particularly in the case of Mr. Torain, who was entitled to competent, diligent representation by the Respondent. Respondent failed to provide that representation which resulted in a judgment being entered. Respondent found a substitute attorney when he was unable to appear in court, however, since he did not inform or communicate with his client effectively. His professional conduct and representation was totally ineffective and prejudicial to the administration of justice. Specifically, Respondent's incompetent representation resulted in the default judgment to be entered against Mr. Torain. MRPC Rule 8.4(d) states that: [I]t is professional misconduct for a lawyer to engage in conduct that is prejudicial to the administration of justice. In an effort to repay Mr. Torain for the default judgment, Respondent has given Mr. Torain a certified check for $1,000.00, which represents over fifty percent of the default judgment and refund of the retainer agreement. This Court assumes that Respondent will refund Mr. Torain all monies and make him whole with regard to the balance of the judgment due and owing. Consequently, Respondent failed to provide competent representation for Mr. Torain in the matter at bar. Respondent, however, did act competently in the representation of Mr. Jenkins. Although Respondent was inexperienced regarding securing release from jail either through posting bond or use of a bail bondsman, Respondent did secure Mr. Jenkins'[s] release from the Montgomery County Detention Center. Consequently, Respondent did not violate MRPC Rule 1.1 and thereby did not violate MRPC Rule 8.4. [11] CONCLUSION For the reasons stated above, this Court finds by clear and convincing evidence that Respondent's overall conduct during the course of his representation of Mr. Albert Jenkins violated Rule [1.5,] 5.3(a) and 8.4 only. [12] Additionally, this Court finds by clear and convincing evidence that Respondent violated Rules 1.1, 1.3, 1.4, 3.3(a)(1), and 8.4[(d)] [13] in the course of his representation of Mr. Daryl Torain due primarily to lack of experience and competency in maintaining coverage for conflicting trial dates. Respondent's behavior in not properly following up with the District Court to assure that Mr. Torain's case would be continued, not providing diligent representation when he did not inform Mr. Torain of the status of the court date, and not filing the Motion to Vacate Judgment against Mr. Torain timely, are violations of Rules 1.1, 1.3, and 1.4. Respondent's statement that his client, Mr. Torain, was present in court on May 6 was a false statement and, therefore, Respondent has violated Rule 3.3(a)(1). By virtue of his violating Rules 1.1, 1.3, 1.4, and 3.3(a)(1), Respondent has violated the corresponding sections of Rule 8.4.