Opinion ID: 1386894
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: The Bilson Matter

Text: In September 1987, Stephen Bilson gave petitioner a $250 advance fee to represent Bilson in a civil suit. Petitioner filed a timely answer on behalf of Bilson on October 2, 1987. Thereafter, Bilson could not get petitioner to respond to his repeated phone calls or to a letter sent to petitioner by certified mail. Bilson finally contacted petitioner in January 1988, a month before the trial date, and requested that petitioner request a continuance of the trial so that Bilson could hire new counsel. Petitioner appeared at trial and did not withdraw as Bilson's attorney; Bilson did not appear. A judgment of $22,223.50 was entered against Bilson, who is now contesting that judgment. Bilson did not appear at the default hearing but his declaration was introduced. The hearing judge in his tentative ruling noted that he was unable to infer, from Bilson's declaration, whether petitioner failed to request a continuance at trial for substitution of counsel, or whether petitioner in fact made such a motion which was denied. However, the hearing judge did find petitioner culpable of certain other disciplinary violations for this incident in his October 6, 1989, order.