Opinion ID: 2624513
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 9

Heading: DA9520Complaint filed by Barbara M.

Text: The hearing panel found the following facts regarding the complaint of Barbara M., who had retained Swanson to file a divorce action on her behalf. In November 2003, Swanson filed the divorce in Seward County, Kansas, and the district court granted the divorce on March 8, 2004. According to the divorce decree, prepared by Swanson, Barbara M. was to receive $15,000 of the proceeds of her husband's KPERS retirement account. Swanson, however, failed to prepare the Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO) authorizing the division of the retirement account. Barbara M. learned of this in December 2004 and thereafter began calling Swanson's office to discuss the status of the QDRO with him. Barbara M.'s numerous telephone calls went unanswered. On April 7, 2005, Barbara M. filed a complaint with the Disciplinary Administrator's office. In her complaint, in addition to complaining that Swanson failed to prepare and file the QDRO, Barbara M. also noted errors in the divorce decree. Approximately a week after she filed her complaint, on April 15, 2005, Swanson prepared and filed the QDRO, but he never rectified the errors in the divorce decree. The hearing panel concluded that in connection with Swanson's representation of Barbara M., he violated KRPC 1.1 for failing to prepare the QDRO on her behalf; KRPC 1.3 for failing to timely file the QDRO on her behalf; and KRPC 1.4 for failing to return her telephone calls and to provide her with updates on the status of the representation.