Opinion ID: 2094013
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: First CountClient Matters

Text: Scott Moon retained Campbell in September 1997 to represent him in a child custody matter. While Campbell satisfactorily represented Moon until November 1998, after that point Campbell stopped returning Moon's telephone calls. As a result, Moon visited Campbell's office and discovered that she had moved. After Campbell's former receptionist gave Moon Campbell's home address and telephone number, Moon left numerous telephone messages on the answering machine at Campbell's home. Campbell never returned Moon's telephone calls or responded to a letter that Moon wrote asking her to contact him. Because Moon was unable to contact Campbell, he appeared and represented himself at a January 1999 hearing without the assistance of his case file, as it was still in Campbell's possession. Campbell has made no subsequent efforts to communicate with Moon.
Gary Evenson retained Campbell in January 1998 to represent him in a child custody matter. When an initial custody motion was denied 6 months later, Evenson immediately directed Campbell to file an appeal. In the ensuing weeks, Campbell periodically told Evenson that she was negotiating with opposing counsel for a visitation schedule that would render an appeal unnecessary. Subsequently, Campbell stopped returning Evenson's telephone calls. In September 1998, on the filing deadline for Evenson's appeal, Campbell called Evenson and falsely stated that she was still negotiating with opposing counsel. Relying on this statement, Evenson directed Campbell to continue negotiations and not to file an appeal. Despite Campbell's assurances that she would keep Evenson informed about the negotiation results, Campbell had no further contact with Evenson despite his leaving her approximately 40 telephone messages. In November 1998, Evenson visited Campbell's office and discovered that she had moved without notifying him or providing any forwarding information. In early December 1998, Evenson wrote Campbell requesting that she return his case file and refund his unearned retainer balance. Campbell has not responded to Evenson's letter, returned his case file, or issued a refund.
Lisa Pendleton retained Campbell in March 1998 to represent her in a marriage dissolution. Beginning in September 1998, Campbell failed to respond to Pendleton's numerous telephone messages and failed to inform Pendleton when she moved from her office. Then, on approximately November 12, 1998, Campbell telephoned Pendleton and informed her of an upcoming November 4 hearing on her husband's motion to reduce child support. At the hearing, the parties reached an agreement and Campbell read a stipulation on the record. Following the hearing, Pendleton left approximately ten telephone messages for Campbell inquiring about the matter's status and whether a judgment had been entered. Campbell did not respond to any of these messages and there has been no subsequent contact between Campbell and Pendleton.
Brad and Karla Olson retained Campbell in May 1998 to handle a child support matter. Campbell was one hour late for the first hearing she attended as the Olsons' attorney and was 45 minutes late for the next hearing. At the latter hearing, Campbell stated that she would submit a proposed order for child visitation to the judge, but failed to do so. At that same hearing, a child support issue was continued pending Brad Olson's former wife's submission of proof of her income and daycare costs. Although Campbell later received this information, she never provided it to the Olsons despite their specific requests that she do so. In late September 1998, Campbell told Karla Olson that she would write to the daycare provider to request the information, but failed to do so. Beginning in early October 1998, the Olsons began finding it difficult to contact Campbell because she would not return their telephone calls. Karla Olson subsequently discovered that Campbell had moved from her office without notifying the Olsons or providing them with any forwarding information. In early November 1998, after a motion to claim the child for income tax purposes was dismissed as untimely, the Olsons left messages at Campbell's home but did not receive a response. The Olsons' last billing statement from Campbell reflected a credit balance, but, despite numerous requests, Campbell has not refunded this unearned retainer balance or returned the Olsons' case file, and the Olsons have been unable to communicate with Campbell since mid-November.
Ann Hagen retained Campbell in June 1998 to represent her in a marriage dissolution. Campbell prepared a summons and petition for dissolution of marriage, which Hagen then reviewed and signed. Campbell served those documents on Hagen's husband within a month after being retained. However, after mid-July 1998, Hagen was unable to contact Campbell and subsequently learned that Campbell had moved from her office without notifying Hagen or providing any forwarding information. Campbell never filed Hagen's divorce matter with the court or refunded Hagen's unearned retainer balance. Campbell has made no subsequent efforts to communicate with Hagen.
Ralph Neinas retained Campbell in June 1998 to represent him in a marriage dissolution. At their initial meeting, Campbell stated that she would mail Neinas a copy of a retainer agreement, but failed to do so. Before September 4, 1998, Neinas' wife served Campbell with a summons and petition for dissolution of marriage. Campbell then mailed the summons to Neinas with instructions that he sign the admission of service before a notary public and return it to her. After Neinas did as he had been instructed, Campbell told Neinas that she had forwarded the executed admission of service to opposing counsel even though she had not done so. Thereafter, Neinas was unable to contact Campbell despite leaving numerous telephone messages. On October 20, 1998, while attempting to deliver documents to Campbell, Neinas learned that Campbell had moved from her office without notifying him of the move or providing any forwarding information. In November 1998, Neinas wrote Campbell a letter terminating representation and requesting that she refund his retainer. Receiving no response, in January Neinas wrote Campbell requesting that she return his case file. Campbell did not respond to either request.
Dennis Oie retained Campbell in approximately July 1998 to represent him in a marriage dissolution. Campbell did not commence the proceeding and in September 1998, Oie's wife served him with a summons and petition for dissolution of marriage. The next month Campbell advised Oie that she had received a settlement demand from opposing counsel. Although Campbell stated that she would forward a copy of the demand for Oie's consideration, she failed to do so. Soon thereafter, Oie learned that Campbell had moved from her office without notifying him or providing any forwarding information. Campbell has made no subsequent efforts to communicate with Oie. The Director alleges that Campbell's conduct in these seven client matters violated Minnesota Rules of Professional Conduct (MRPC) 1.3 (requiring an attorney to act with reasonable diligence and promptness in representing a client); Rule 1.4, MRPC (requiring an attorney to keep a client reasonably informed about the status of his case, comply with reasonable requests for information, and explain the matter to the extent necessary for the client to be able to make informed decisions); Rule 1.15(b)(4), MRPC (requiring an attorney to promptly return funds to which the client is entitled upon client request); Rule 1.16(d), MRPC (requiring an attorney to surrender papers and property to which the client is entitled and to refund any advance payment of fee that has not been earned at termination of the representation); Rule 3.2, MRPC (requiring an attorney to expedite litigation consistent with her client's interests); Rule 4.1, MRPC (prohibiting an attorney from knowingly making false factual or legal statements in the course of representing a client); Rule 8.4(c), MRPC (forbidding an attorney from engaging in conduct that is dishonest, fraudulent, deceitful, or that constitutes misrepresentation); and Rule 8.4(d), MRPC (prohibiting an attorney from engaging in conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice).