Opinion ID: 2637981
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The Arias-Abshagen Matter

Text: Arias-Abshagen, LLC hired Righter in early 1998 to handle two separate matters. The first involved filing a judgment previously obtained by Arias-Abshagen, LLC in the amount of $55,000 prior to the end of April, 1998. Righter failed to file the judgment. The second matter concerned a liquor license application for a restaurant owned primarily by Arias-Abshagen, LLC. Righter was provided with $3,500 by the client for his fees, payment of the costs of petitioning the surrounding neighborhood, acquisition of the license, and payment of the state and city fees for the license. Approximately $2,252.50 of the $3,500 was designated by the client for payment of the state and city license fees. Righter failed to take any action on behalf of Arias-Abshagen, LLC in connection with the liquor license application, or pay any of the required costs or fees associated with the licensure process. The client was unable to contact Righter after it had paid him the $3,500. Arias-Abshagen, LLC was required to secure replacement counsel to handle both of the client matters, and was compelled to advance additional sums of money to replacement counsel for fees and the costs of the liquor license application. Replacement counsel demanded that Righter refund the unearned fees and unpaid costs. Replacement counsel also demanded that Righter deliver the client files. Righter neither delivered the client files nor refunded the unearned fees and unpaid costs. Between the time that Arias-Abshagen, LLC paid Righter the $3,500 and the date that replacement counsel demanded the return of the unearned fees and unpaid costs, Righter's checking account balance dropped to $73.57, reflecting that Righter had spent his client's funds.