Opinion ID: 1377729
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: Count VIIDiana Jackson

Text: The complainant, Diana Jackson, retained Keenan to represent her in a divorce action. Ms. Jackson sought a divorce on the grounds of adultery and physical abuse. On August 8, 1996, the day scheduled for a final hearing, a settlement was reached between the parties. Pursuant to the settlement, Ms. Jackson agreed to relinquish any right to alimony in return for the deed to the marital residence, a share in her husband's pension, payment of assorted household bills, and reimbursement of her attorney fees. A final order was entered on November 19, 1996. After receiving a copy of the final order, Ms. Jackson determined that the order did not include the total agreement between the parties. She contacted Keenan in November of 1996, and questioned why there was no provision in the order for her receiving a share in her ex-husband's pension. According to Ms. Jackson, Keenan informed her that because she was divorcing her husband she was not eligible for a share in his pension. Additionally, between November 1996 and June 1997, Ms. Jackson received only a portion of the money owed her by her former husband, and did not receive the deed to the house. Ms. Jackson filed an ethics complaint against Keenan, and on June 2, 1997, a copy of the complaint was forwarded to Keenan by the ODC with instructions to reply to the complaint within 10 days. Keenan failed to respond to the ODC's request. A second request for a reply to the complaint was sent to Keenan on September 10, 1997. Keenan responded by letter dated September 23, 1997. Keenan informed the ODC that counsel for the exhusband was supposed to prepare the deed, but that the husband's counsel had died before he was able to prepare the deed. After a meeting with Ms. Jackson on June 27, 1997, Keenan agreed to prepare the deed. In January of 1998, Keenan prepared the deed and wrote one letter to Ms. Jackson's ex-husband regarding the unpaid monies. Keenan did not charge Ms. Jackson an additional fee for this, but he declined to take further action unless he was hired and paid for his services. The Board charged Keenan with violating Rule 1.2(a) [16] for his initial refusal to prepare the deed, and violating Rule 8.1(b) [17] of the Rules of Professional Conduct for failing to respond to the ODC in a timely manner. Keenan stipulated to the charges of the Board.