Opinion ID: 1171519
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The Lewis Matter

Text: On March 18, 1986, Lisa Lewis retained the respondent to represent her in connection with a skiing accident she was involved in on March 15, 1986. The respondent filed a verified complaint in Clear Creek County District Court on January 21, 1987, against the Clear Creek Skiing Corporation d/b/a Loveland Ski Basin Area on behalf of Lewis. The complaint requested damages for injuries Lewis sustained after she dismounted from the defendant's chairlift. The complaint alleged that Lewis's injuries were caused by the defendant's negligence and stated: 6. As a proximate result of Defendant's negligent act, Lewis suffered permanent facial disfigurement that required her to cease her employment as a dancer, thus resulting in lost wages. In fact, Lewis had not been employed as a dancer since August 27, 1977, and had no intention of returning to dancing. Lewis testified that the respondent knew the statement relating to dancing was false but advised her to sign the verified complaint because it enhanced the value of her claim. The hearing board found that, in his handling of the Lewis case, the respondent failed to contact key witnesses to the accident, failed to conduct discovery or investigate the witnesses to the accident and the witnesses listed by the defendant, failed to prepare Lewis and two friendly witnesses prior to their depositions, [1] failed to personally attend Lewis's own deposition, and failed to engage or consult with expert witnesses concerning liability. When Lewis obtained substitute counsel in May 1988, her case was not adequately prepared for trial which was scheduled for June 21, 1988. These determinations of the hearing board are fully supported by the evidence in the record. [2] The board concluded, and we agree, that inclusion of the false claim for loss of employment damages violated DR 1-102(A)(4) (a lawyer shall not engage in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation), and DR 7-102(A)(2) (in representing a client, a lawyer shall not knowingly advance a claim or defense that is unwarranted under existing law). In almost totally failing to prepare the case for trial over a two-year period, the respondent violated DR 6-101(A)(2) (a lawyer shall not handle a legal matter entrusted to the lawyer without adequate preparation under the circumstances), DR 6-101(A)(3) (a lawyer shall not neglect a legal matter entrusted to the lawyer), and DR 7-101(A)(1) (a lawyer shall not intentionally fail to seek the lawful objectives of the lawyer's client through reasonably available means).