Opinion ID: 1057635
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Vickie Berry Matter

Text: Sneed represented Vickie Berry in a slip and fall case. On September 2, 2003, Sneed filed suit on Berry's behalf. The case was continued several times at Sneed's request and, at one point, was dismissed for failure to prosecute. Although the dismissal for failure to prosecute was eventually set aside, the case was later dismissed on a motion for summary judgment. See Berry v. Houchens Mkt. of Tenn., Inc., 253 S.W.3d 141, 143, 148 (Tenn.Ct.App.2007). While Berry's case was being litigated, she complained to the Board that Sneed failed to respond to her inquires about the case and failed to keep her informed about the status of the case. Berry testified before the Panel that Sneed kept her pretty much in the dark about her case for several years. She left numerous messages on his cell phone and office phone to no avail. She even sent him a certified letter complaining about his failure to keep her informed about the case. Sneed did not refute Berry's testimony except to point out that she acknowledged that he had communicated with her during the last two years of their professional relationship  which was after she had complained to the Board. The Panel found that Sneed failed to keep Berry informed about the status of her case, failed to comply with reasonable requests for information made by her, and failed to pursue her case with reasonable diligence and promptness, all in violation of Rules of Professional Conduct [1] (RPC) 1.3, [2] 1.4, [3] and 8.4. [4]