Opinion ID: 1215810
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: EIGHTH CAUSE OF COMPLAINT (Failure to cooperate with Bar)

Text: Carol Justis, Records Administrator, State Court Administrator's Office, filed a complaint against the accused with the General Counsel of the Bar on September 4, 1984. By letter dated September 5, 1984, the General Counsel requested the accused to respond to Justis's complaint by September 27, 1984. The accused did not respond. On October 15, 1984, the General Counsel referred the matter to the Multnomah County LPRC for further investigation. By letter dated November 8, 1984, Multnomah County LPRC member Angus requested that the accused submit a written explanation and response to Justis's complaint by November 29, 1984. On November 15, 1984, the accused furnished Angus copies of his bank statements pertaining to his client's trust account and executed an authorization for disclosure of bank records. The accused talked to Angus again prior to November 29, 1984, promising the requested written response. Approximately two weeks after November 29, 1984, the accused contacted Angus and promised the response immediately. The accused's behavior illustrates his overall attitude toward all the complaints filed against him. Despite having a colorable explanation for his actions in this instance, the accused failed to show any interest in the Bar's investigation. The record shows that after several promises to deliver an explanation, none of which were fulfilled, the accused left a telephone message [on Thursday] for the reporting LPRC member advising that relatives had arrived in town unexpectedly and that he would be unable to provide the explanation until [the following] Monday. The accused never furnished a written explanation of the complaint filed by Justis or claimed the exercise of any applicable right or privilege to refrain from doing so. The Trial Panel concluded and this court concludes that the accused is guilty of violating the standard of professional conduct of former DR 1-103(C), in that he did not respond to the reasonable requests of the General Counsel of the Bar and the Multnomah County LPRC.