Opinion ID: 1857750
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Count III The Harrison Matter

Text: In 1996, Mary Harrison retained respondent to represent her sixteen-year old daughter, Shantelle Harrison, who was charged with second degree murder arising out of the death of her newborn baby. Respondent was paid $5,000 for the representation plus an additional $2,500 for expert witness fees. Respondent called no expert witnesses to testify at Shantelle's trial, but he nevertheless failed to account for or refund the expert witness fees. Respondent also failed to subpoena other witnesses whom he had told Shantelle that he planned to call at trial. In July 1998, Shantelle was convicted of second degree murder and sentenced to life in prison. Respondent told Shantelle that he would appeal her conviction; however, he failed to do so. He also failed to properly communicate with Shantelle regarding the status of her case. In 2001, Shantelle's new counsel filed a motion for post-conviction relief and motion for new trial. At the hearing on the motion, Shantelle testified that she had been prepared to accept an offer from the State which would have allowed her to plead guilty to manslaughter, but respondent urged her to reject the plea agreement and to go to trial because he had found the nurse, the doctor, the psychologist to testify, and that we was [sic] going to win it. However, respondent did not call any expert witnesses to testify at the trial, and Shantelle was ultimately convicted of second degree murder. Shantelle also testified that respondent told her that even if she were convicted, he would file an appeal, she would win, and she would spend no more than six months in jail. Shantelle's testimony was corroborated by that of her mother and her sisters. For his part, respondent admitted that he called no expert witnesses to testify on Shantelle's behalf, but he denied that he guaranteed a result to Shantelle or advised her to reject the State's plea offer. Considering the testimony presented at the hearing, the trial court granted Shantelle's motion for post-conviction relief and motion for new trial. In oral reasons for judgment, the trial judge stated: . . . In addition, the Court finds that [Shantelle's] retained attorney, Mr. Mack Frank, was ineffective and did not provide adequate counsel in this case, failing, among other things, to present any medical evidence to contradict the medical evidence . . . which was presented by the State at the trial, concerning whether or not the death of the child was intentional or was an accident. The court is also convinced that through Mr. Frank's representations that he was going to present testimony of a nurse, psychologist, and a pathologist, which he never subpoenaed, much less required their presence at the trial, that none was given, and that he advised her not to accept the manslaughter plea which was offered, and which she would have taken, had she known all of the facts in this matter. In May 2001, Mary Harrison filed a complaint against respondent with the ODC. Respondent answered the complaint but failed to respond to the ODC's request for supplemental information. The ODC alleges that respondent's conduct violated Rules 1.1 (failure to provide competent representation to a client), 1.3 (failure to act with reasonable diligence and promptness in representing a client), 1.4 (failure to communicate with a client), 1.5(f)(6) (failure to refund an unearned fee), 1.16(d) (obligations upon termination of the representation), 8.4(c), 8.4(d), and 8.4(g) of the Rules of Professional Conduct.