Opinion ID: 1919646
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Docket Number 219-84: Mills Complaint

Text: Ms. Jacqueline Mills and her parents, Mr. Samuel I. Mills and Mrs. Mabel G. Mills, retained Respondent to represent Ms. Mills concerning an automobile accident that had occurred in March 1983. Various members of the Mills family testified that they had provided Respondent with copies of medical reports, bills, and other documents that Respondent had requested. The Abbey Casualty Insurance Company, which represented the taxi cab company involved in the accident, contacted Mr. Mills concerning the possibility of settling the claim. Mr. and Mrs. Mills refused to negotiate directly with the insurance company. They informed Respondent of the contact and requested that he negotiate with the company. Respondent failed to communicate with the insurance company. Mr. and Mrs. Mills unsuccessfully attempted to communicate with Respondent during 1983. Respondent failed to return telephone messages left by the Mills. Respondent failed to take any action on behalf of the Mills, and he did not file suit. He testified that he did not file suit because he had been awaiting the outcome of the litigation attacking the District of Columbia's nofault insurance law. Tr. 6 at 35-37. Respondent failed to inform his clients of this decision. Mr. and Mrs. Mills requested that Respondent return the papers that had been given to him. Respondent testified that the only papers that he had received related to another accident that had occurred in 1981 of which Mr. and Mrs. Mills' daughter had also been involved. Tr. 6 at 20-21. Ultimately, Mr. and Mrs. Mills settled directly with the insurance company. Bar Counsel charged Respondent with violations of DR 6-101(A)(3), neglect of a legal matter entrusted to him by the Mills, and DR 9-103(B)(4), failure to deliver their papers to the clients. The Hearing Committee found that Respondent had violated DR 6-101(A)(3) because he had neglected to do anything with respect to Ms. Mills' personal injury case. The Committee further found that the evidence lacks sufficient clarity and persuasiveness to support a violation of DR 9-103(B)(4). H.Comm.Rpt. 37-38. We agree. Respondent neglected the Mills case in several respects: (1) he failed to file suit on behalf of his client; (2) he failed to communicate with his clients, despite their efforts to contact him; and (3) he failed to communicate with the insurance company concerning settling the claim. In re Roundtree, 467 A.2d 143 (D.C.1983).