Opinion ID: 2590331
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 11

Heading: The Homeowners Litigation Matter 08PDJ057

Text: In the fall of 2006, certain subdivision homeowners retained Respondent to represent them in a pending litigation matter. The homeowners collectively paid Respondent a $7000.00 retainer fee. Respondent agreed to bill the homeowners at a rate of $200.00 per hour. Respondent entered his appearance in the litigation and responded on behalf of certain homeowners to the plaintiffs' motion for default judgment. Respondent also filed an answer on behalf of the other homeowners. The district court entered a decree quieting title in the plaintiffs and enjoined certain homeowners. The district court entered a default judgment against the same homeowners. Respondent moved to set aside the default judgment. The district court granted the motion as to certain homeowners. Plaintiffs' counsel and Respondent thereafter submitted initial disclosures. No discovery appears to have taken place. In the fall of 2007, the court ordered the parties to engage in mediation. The homeowners were in contact with Respondent about the upcoming mediation. Respondent did not send invoices or billing statements to the clients during his representation. In late November 2007, the Colorado Supreme Court administratively suspended Respondent from the practice of law. The Colorado Supreme Court then immediately suspended Respondent from the practice of law in a second proceeding on January 16, 2008. Respondent failed to inform his clients of either suspension as required by C.R.C.P. 251.28 and C.R.C.P. 251.8. In mid-January 2008, a client learned from opposing counsel that Respondent had been suspended from the practice of law. Another client sent an e-mail to Respondent asking him how to respond to opposing counsel. Respondent promised to address this matter upon his return to Durango on January 23, 2008. On January 24, 2008, the clients checked the Colorado Supreme Court website and learned that Respondent had been suspended from the practice of law. They then retained new counsel to handle their case. One of the homeowners sent an e-mail to Respondent and requested that he surrender their file and provide an accounting of their funds. New counsel later requested the same. Respondent failed to comply with either request. Respondent violated Colo. RPC 1.15(b) and 1.16(d) when he failed to return the file to his clients and failed to provide them with an accounting of their funds. Respondent also violated Colo. RPC 8.4(c) when he knowingly converted the unearned portion of their $7000.00 retainer fee and when he acted deceitfully in failing to address his suspensions with his clients.