Opinion ID: 1794043
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 11

Heading: Count III The Bachman Matter

Text: In October 2003, Danette Bachman paid respondent $675 to file a bankruptcy proceeding. Despite over fifty phone calls to respondent's office by Ms. Bachman requesting that he file the petition, respondent failed to take any action and Ms. Bachman was forced to hire other counsel. In July 2004, the United States Trustee contacted respondent concerning the fee paid by Ms. Bachman. Respondent sent an e-mail response stating Ms. Bachman had disappeared after hiring him, and that he had not received a phone call or letter from her in almost a year. Respondent then proceeded to file his own personal bankruptcy proceeding, and listed the $675 fee as a creditor claim. Respondent's bankruptcy case was dismissed with prejudice in September 2004. On February 2, 2005, the bankruptcy trustee set a hearing to examine and void the transaction between Ms. Bachman and respondent to recoup the funds for the bankruptcy estate. Respondent was notified of the hearing in advance, but failed to attend. Respondent also did not answer the trustee's requests for admissions, which were then deemed admitted, and respondent was ordered to refund $675 to the debtor, Ms. Bachman. Respondent has not refunded the fee as ordered by the bankruptcy court. In February 2005, United States Bankruptcy Judge Henley Hunter filed a complaint with the ODC, reporting respondent's false statement to the trustee that Ms. Bachman had disappeared. [1] Respondent failed to cooperate with the ODC in the investigation of Judge Hunter's complaint. The ODC alleges that respondent's conduct violates the following provisions of the Rules of Professional Conduct: Rules 1.3, 1.4, 1.5(f)(6), 8.1(c), 8.4(c), and 8.4(d) (engaging in conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice).