Opinion ID: 2544002
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: The Barrios Matter

Text: In February 2003, Olivia Barrios hired respondent to pursue a worker's compensation claim. After the matter was concluded successfully in her favor, Ms. Barrios sought respondent's assistance in obtaining her deceased husband's retirement benefits. Respondent failed to perform any work in that matter, and as a result, Ms. Barrios terminated respondent's services and requested her file. When Ms. Barrios met with respondent to retrieve the file, respondent asked her for a loan. Without advising her to seek independent counsel, respondent asked Ms. Barrios to invest in his law practice and offered to repay the loan with interest. In turn, Ms. Barrios, who was seventy-five years old at the time, gave respondent $15,000 by two separate checks. Respondent prepared two promissory notes for the respective amounts. Thereafter, respondent failed to repay the debt and failed to communicate with Ms. Barrios. In August 2005, Ms. Barrios filed a disciplinary complaint against respondent. The ODC made several attempts to contact respondent, to no avail, necessitating the issuance of a subpoena. In May 2006, respondent appeared before the ODC and submitted to a sworn statement. By August 2006, respondent had repaid $3,900 to Ms. Barrios. In February 2009, respondent acknowledged the outstanding balance and advised the ODC that he intended to make full restitution to Ms. Barrios of all amounts due, with interest. [4] The ODC alleged respondent's conduct violated Rules 1.4, 1.8 (conflict of interest), 8.1(c), 8.4(a), 8.4(c), and 8.4(d) (engaging in conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice) of the Rules of Professional Conduct.