Opinion ID: 2264772
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: The Keffer Matter

Text: In January 2008, Brawley Sage Keffer (Keffer), acting on behalf of a third party, contacted Respondent concerning representation in connection with a patent application. Respondent sent a fee agreement to Keffer. On September 4, 2008, Respondent mailed a letter to Keffer indicating he required a $6,000.00 retainer payment, plus additional court costs, to file the application. That same letter also set forth a schedule making clear Respondent would file the application by October 6, 2008. Keffer mailed Respondent the $6,000.00 fee payment in late September, and Respondent acknowledged receiving the payment soon thereafter. Although Respondent began to prepare the application, he was unable to do so within the time frame set forth in the original September 4, 2008, letter. On October 23, 2008, Respondent emailed Keffer to apologize for the delay and to promise a draft of the application in the immediate future. On November 12, 2008, Respondent promised to have a draft prepared by November 18, 2008, and a final application filed by December 3, 2008. On December 1, 2008, Respondent promised to have a final draft to Keffer on that date. Finally, on December 3, 2008, Respondent mailed a draft application to Keffer. Keffer, however, was dissatisfied with the work and terminated Respondent's services on December 10, 2008. Respondent did not complete the legal services for which he was retained. Instead, Respondent consumed Keffer's entire retainer prior to completion of the work. In addition, by the date of his termination, Respondent had not notified Keffer that his license to practice law in Colorado had been suspended as of December 5, 2008; Respondent failed to send the required notice to Keffer until January 19, 2009. By failing to represent Keffer diligently and promptly, Respondent violated Colo. RPC 1.3. Further, Respondent violated Colo. RPC 1.15(a) and (c) by failing to safeguard Keffer's funds in trust until the funds he had earned them, and by failing to account to Keffer for consumption of the funds. Respondent also engaged in conduct involving dishonesty in violation of Colo. RPC 8.4(c) in two distinct respects: he knowingly exercised unauthorized dominion and control over funds belonging to Keffer; and he failed to notify Keffer of the suspension of his license to practice law in the State of Colorado.