Opinion ID: 1436435
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Morris Fuller

Text: Bar Counsel's petition with respect to Fuller alleges that, in December, 2003, Morris Fuller retained Maignan and his firm to collect a $28,502 judgment that Fuller had obtained against Bryant Enterprises, Inc., a defunct corporation. Fuller paid Maignan an initial retainer of $2,000 and made a subsequent payment of $2,700. Bar Counsel averred that Maignan charged an unreasonable fee, including a charge of $62 for preparing the retainer agreement, that he or his associate filed frivolous motions and defective pleadings, that he failed to supervise lawyer and non-lawyer employees, and that he failed to return unearned fees to Fuller. On those allegations, Bar Counsel charged Maignan with violations of Maryland Rules of Professional Conduct (MRPC) 1.1 (Competent representation), 1.3 (Diligence), 1.5(a) (Reasonable fee), 1.16(d) (Refund unearned fees), 3.1 (Frivolous proceeding), 5.1 (Assuring professional conduct by lawyer-employees), 5.3(a) and (c) (Assuring professional conduct by non-lawyer employees), 8.4(a) (Violating other MRPC), and 8.4(d) (Conduct prejudicial to administration of justice). After hearing evidence, Judge Jackson found that Bar Counsel had failed to prove any of the charges. He noted that Fuller had the assistance of another attorney in obtaining the judgment and that the other attorney, prior to her dismissal, had filed and served on the debtor interrogatories in aid of execution. When the interrogatories were not answered, Maignan filed a motion for contempt and for a writ of execution. The motion for contempt was never ruled on; the writ of execution was denied. At some point thereafter, Fuller and John Bryant, a principal in the defunct corporation, agreed to settle the judgment for $10,000. [2] A note evidencing that debt was prepared by someone, Bryant made an advance payment of $3,500, and Maignan was instructed by Fuller to draft an agreement memorializing the settlement. At a meeting held in Maignan's office on April 10, 2004, Bryant tendered a check for the $6,500 balance, but Fuller declined to accept the money, repudiated the settlement, and told Maignan that he wanted full payment. Maignan informed Fuller that he did not wish to represent him further, and he instructed an associate who had been working on the matter to cease doing any more work for Fuller. Despite that instruction and without Maignan's knowledge, the associate filed additional motions for oral examination, which were not granted. When Maignan learned of her conduct, he discharged her. Fuller was not charged for her work in connection with those motions. Bar Counsel has filed no exceptions to Judge Jackson's findings and conclusions in the Fuller matter, and, given the record before us, we shall dismiss that part of the petition.