Opinion ID: 1920283
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: rouiller

Text: In December of 1972, Mrs. Bonnie Rouiller (Rouiller) retained Pollack for the purpose of settling the estate of her husband, Richard E. Rouiller, who had died in November of 1972. (T., pp. 39-40). Prior to that time the estate was opened, bond was obtained, notice to creditors was published, and Mrs. Rouiller was appointed the administratrix of the estate. (P. X 4). Rouiller explained to Pollack that the matter involved changing the name of several stock certificates from her husband's to her own and her daughter's names, transferring a car title to her, and settling a small insurance policy. (T., p. 40). Between December, 1972, and February, 1974, Rouiller had several phone conversations with Pollack on these matters. In March of 1974 Rouiller informed Pollack that her oldest daughter would be marrying and asked him if that would involve another name change on the stock certificates. (T., p. 40). Rouiller believed that, at the time of her husband's death, his car was titled in the name of his company, W.K. Ports & Co. (T., pp. 53-54). Because she did not hear from Pollack on this matter, Rouiller obtained a copy of the registration from the Department of Motor Vehicles (T., p. 48); this title was in her husband's and her own name. (T., p. 54). When she sold the car, sometime in 1974, she presented this duplicate and a copy of her husband's death certificate to the purchaser. (T., p. 48). In October, 1974 Pollack visited Rouiller at her place of employment and asked her to sign several papers. He indicated that they concerned the estate, but she did not understand their legal significance. Pollack told Rouiller that the whole matter would be settled within two weeks. Pollack also visited Rouiller at her home on October 28th. He brought her some papers to sign and told her that the estate was about to be closed. (T., p. 58). Because she had not heard from Pollack, Rouiller filed a grievance with the Bar Association in May of 1975. (P. X 3). On September 3, 1975, she met with Crawford who was acting as Pollack's attorney at the request of the Bar Association. (T., p. 43). He told her that he had been unable to contact Pollack by phone and that he had sent a registered letter to him. Rouiller was unable to determine what legal action had been taken on her behalf and decided to consult another attorney, Claude L. Callegary (Callegary). Callegary made several inquiries and informed Rouiller that the estate had been closed since October, 1974. In September of 1975, Pollack turned the stock certificates over to Callegary who has held them since that time. (T., p. 44). During his appearance before the three judge panel, Pollack was asked to explain his handling of this matter. Mr. Pollack had no explanation for his inaction except his state of mind. (T., p. 94): POLLACK: For me, to, well, I can't offer an excuse for my being dilatory. I can say that my favorite expression, hindsight, I can look back and give reasons why I acted a certain way and the reasons I acted that way is because my mind, I was going through a traumatic period and my mind was not functioning properly. Or, I wasn't in a mental state where I, where I would carry through or complete something that I had started. This didn't happen everyday and this didn't happen every matter, but, this situation with Mrs. Rouiller and the stocks, the court has before it the file from West Baltimore County that will reflect there were three cases that I ordered letters, twelve copies of letters of administration which had to accompany the stock certificates for transfer. I, forms filled out which were turned over to Mr. Callegary. I went to a point, and I don't know why, I can't offer an explanation. Later, during the same hearing, the following exchange took place: (T., p. 114). JUDGE SULLIVAN: There was some testimony about Mrs. Rouiller, ..., there was a car title and insurance policy left with her in addition to the stock certificates? POLLACK: Yes. JUDGE SULLIVAN: Do you know where the title to that automobile is? POLLACK: I have the title to that automobile. Now, the, I have to clarify that. I have a title to that automobile in the W. Port Company, and I have, no, nothing to indicate that the title is, that, it is a little confusing. I don't think the title to that automobile was in W. Port Company as it was given to me and I believe was testified that before, correct me if I am wrong, before his death, Mr. Rouiller, and W. Port Company had put that car in their names. (T., p. 115). JUDGE WATTS: Well, two parties? POLLACK: And not Mr. and Mrs. Rouiller which is not the title was given to me. JUDGE KARWACKI: In other words, you think you had an old obsolete title? POLLACK: Yes. JUDGE SULLIVAN: How about the insurance policy? POLLACK: The letter and the policy was written and sent to the insurance company. And the letter stipulated, stated in there that the proceeds would be sent directly to Mrs. Rouiller and the reason was that there was no banking account opened up or on the estate and sent directly to her.... . JUDGE SULLIVAN: Was the receipt of the policy acknowledged and the death claim acknowledged? POLLACK: I don't have any knowledge. JUDGE SULLIVAN: Do you know it? POLLACK: No, but I sent  JUDGE SULLIVAN: In the form of an acknowledgement? You sent the insurance and the form claim that his policy  (T., p. 116). POLLACK: Yes, there was testimony in it. MR. CRAWFORD: Your honor, we will offer this as Respondent's Exhibit No. 1. (R X 1).