Opinion ID: 835847
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Loitz Matter

Text: Loitz retained the accused in 1997 with the goal of reducing monthly spousal support payments. Following a trial, the trial court ordered a reduction in Loitz's monthly support obligation, but the reduction was not as much as the accused hoped. The accused encouraged Loitz to appeal. Loitz took the accused's advice, and the accused filed, briefed, and argued the case before the Court of Appeals. The accused spoke with Loitz on the same day as the Court of Appeals oral argument, September 21, 1999. Except for one telephone call on January 27, 2000, the accused had no further communication with Loitz regarding his case. During the subsequent months, however, the following events occurred. On September 28, 1999, the accused received a letter from Court Bonds, the company that had issued the supersedeas bond for Loitz's appeal, reminding the accused that the premium on the supersedeas bond was overdue. On October 6, the Court of Appeals affirmed without opinion the trial judge's decision. On October 12, opposing counsel filed a statement for costs and a petition for attorney fees, and mailed a copy to the accused, which the accused received on October 15. On October 18, the accused received a second letter from Court Bonds reminding him that the premium on the supersedeas bond was overdue. On October 21, the accused received a copy of a letter from opposing counsel to the Court of Appeals related to the petition for attorney fees. On November 18, Court Bonds sent a third letter to the accused demanding premium payment on the supersedeas bond within 10 working days. On November 19, the accused dictated a letter to Loitz regarding the need to renew the bond, but the dictation tape was not transcribed and no letter was sent to Loitz. Loitz learned of the overdue payment on the bond when he received a November 30, 1999, letter from Court Bonds. In early December 1999, Loitz faxed the accused twice and called the accused's office questioning whether the issue of the bond had been addressed and whether the Court of Appeals had rendered a decision. The accused did not respond to those inquiries. On December 20, the Court of Appeals issued an appellate judgment against Loitz in the amount of $8,157.50. During those months, the accused's staff gave him a daily log outlining the first-class mail that the accused received. The accused was responsible for reviewing the log and the mail, and either handling the mail himself or delegating that task to his staff. Although the accused received the above-described correspondence and although the Court of Appeals decision was in the accused's client file, the accused did not send those documents to Loitz or otherwise notify Loitz of their contents. Loitz spoke with the accused on January 27, 2000, but, in Loitz's words, received no news on the Court of Appeals decision. Loitz first learned of the Court of Appeals decision and the appellate judgment against him when he sold a piece of property in July 2000 and the title search identified the judgment. Loitz again attempted to contact the accused, but the accused did not respond.