Opinion ID: 2196922
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Petrich Civil Matter

Text: Richard Petrich hired respondent for some legal work, including the defense in a bankruptcy estate's suit against Petrich. Respondent was late in leaving for the court hearing in Duluth and consequently arrived late for the hearing, by which time the judge had ordered a default judgment against respondent's client. To vacate the default judgment, respondent had to pay the bankruptcy trustee $250. Although respondent agreed to file an answer within 10 days, it took him 19 days. Respondent did not tell Petrich that responses to interrogatories needed to be prepared and did not keep his client informed of other developments in the case. When answers to interrogatories were not served and filed, the court ordered judgment by default against Petrich for $12,624 plus attorney fees of $750. The client found out he had lost the case when respondent gave him his file. Respondent never provided the client with a bill or an accounting or any refund of the fee payment of $6,500.