Opinion ID: 1161184
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: count five robert dale morris.

Text: Robert Dale Morris, now a resident of Billings, was living in Dupuyer in 1965 where he was employed by Al Johnson on the Swift Dam ( Tr. XXX-XXX-XXX ); on November 4, 1965 while so employed, he had an industrial accident in which he sustained an eye injury which necessitated medical attention and hospitalization ( Tr. 472 ). This accident and claim is the subject of Exhibit SC No. 6 which reflects that Morris was paid $126.00 in weekly compensation payments and medical expenses of $303.36 were paid by the Board. Morris contacted Bretz for representation on this claim ( Tr. 474 ) in March, 1966, at Bretz' office ( Tr. 884 ). On the occasion of Morris' first meeting with Bretz, Bretz inquired whether Morris had had any prior injury, and Morris informed him that he had been injured in a Wyoming industrial accident ( Tr. 517-518 ), but there was nothing to be done because the statute of limitations had passed ( Tr. 518 ). Morris further testified that he did not request Bretz to do any work on this matter ( Tr. 519 ); Brett testified to the contrary ( Tr. 884 ). However, Morris did in fact sign a letter on March 14, 1966, ( Ex. AA ) to the Clerk of Court, Newcastle, Wyoming, expressing his desire to re-open the 1960 Wyoming claim and designating Bretz as his attorney. Bretz made one trip to Newcastle, Wyoming to talk with the County Attorney and to arrange a medical examination. This trip was totally unproductive ( Tr. 889 ). To pursue the matter would require Morris getting financially involved, which he was unwilling to do, and the claim was dropped ( Tr. 890). Exhibit AAA reflects the limited correspondence between Bretz and the Wyoming officials in this matter. At a later date, following the conclusion of the Montana IAB claims, Bretz charged Morris for mileage and road expenses involved in the Wyoming trip totaling $179.00 ( Tr. 890 ) ( Ex. SC No. 27 ). As mentioned previously, the Montana IAB claim for which Bretz was engaged, arose out of an accident on November 4, 1965. Before any disposition was made of that claim, Morris sustained a second industrial accident injury  this on September 12, 1969, while working for Neilson-Smith ( Tr. 473 ) ( Ex. SC 7 ). The 1965 accident involved an injury to the right eye ( Tr. 485 ) ( SC Ex. 6 ); the 1969 accident involved an injury to the left eye ( Ex. SC 7 ). When Morris engaged Bretz on the 1965 accident, Morris signed four forms in blank at Bretz' request ( Tr. 479 ). The IAB file on the 1965 accident ( Ex. SC 6 ) contains a designation by Morris of Bretz as his attorney. It does not contain a power of attorney from Morris to Bretz. Morris, without assistance from Bretz, made a claim for compensation out of the 1969 injury, ( Ex. SC 7  No. 1 ); this IAB file does not contain any designation of Bretz as Morris' attorney, nor does it contain a power of attorney to Bretz from Morris. Morris did not contact Bretz concerning the 1969 accident, nor have any attorney for it, and other than making a claim for compensation and receiving some weekly benefits, he did not pursue that claim any further ( Tr. 486 ). On the other hand, Bretz testified that it was his understanding that he was to handle both claims ( Tr. 895 ). He produced Exhibit No. 29 which was a form appointment of attorney-in-fact, signed by Morris, which has the blank spaces filled in in typewriting and relate to the October, 1965 accident. This was one of the forms which Morris signed in blank. At a later date, Bretz, in his handwriting, included the date of the second accident 12th of September, 1969 and the name of the employer in the second accident Nilson Smith. Bretz also produced Exhibit BBB which is a designation by Morris of Bretz as his attorney for the September, 1969 accident. An examination of this Exhibit, and particularly a comparison of the signature purported to be Morris' thereto with other signatures of Morris in Exhibits SC 6 and SC 7, raises a serious question whether Morris in fact did sign that designation. Bretz concluded that the two Montana IAB claims had very little value and he settled both of them for $500.00 ( Tr. 896 ). In connection therewith a form petition for compromise settlement, dated March 3, 1972, and filed March 10, 1972, signed by Morris and witnessed by Bretz, petitioned the Board for a compromise settlement of $500.00 on the 1965 accident ( Ex. SC 6  No. 1 ). This was a form signed in blank by Morris. This petition was sent to the Board with a letter from Bretz which contained this statement: You indicated you would settle both of this man's claims for this sum but I only have the number for the one case and so you are authorized to insert the number of the other case on this particular application form so that both of the files can be closed. ( Ex. SC 6 ). Pursuant thereto the petition which contained in typing Claim No. 55-1972, the claim number for the 1965 accident, was amended in handwriting with the insertion of an additional claim No. 51-2662, the claim number for the 1969 accident. On March 13, 1972, an Order was made approving a full and compromise settlement of both claims for $500.00 ( Ex. SC 6-No. 4 ). On the same date a letter was written to Bretz transmitting a copy of the Order and a check in the amount of $500.00 ( Ex SC 6-No. 3 ). The check was payable to Robert D. Morris and is Exhibit No. 13. The endoresment signature Robert D. Morris was not signed by Morris, nor by Bretz, but by someone in Bretz' office. ( Tr. 924 ). The check was taken by a Bretz employee to the First National Bank of Great Falls, negotiated, and the proceeds went into the 517 Strain Building account ( Tr. 925 ) and ultimately came out of the 517 Strain Building account by cash or by check. The signing of Morris' name and the negotiation of the check were under Bretz' specific instructions ( Tr. 926, 927 ). Morris had no contact with Bretz after the 1969 accident  no letters, no calls, no office visits ( Tr. 501 ). His first knowledge of any payment having been made on the two IAB claims was when he was called by investigators from Helena in July or August 1974 ( Tr. 502 ). He has had no contact with Bretz since that time and has not received any accounting from Bretz on the $500.00 payment. Bretz considered that the two IAB claims had only a nuisance value and were settled on that basis ( Tr. 896 ). He testified that before making the settlement he made an effort to locate Morris to get his approval; he sent a man to Lewistown to try to find him, but couldn't locate Morris. Because of his inability to locate Morris, he went ahead and made the settlements. ( Tr. 896-897 ). Bretz further testified that Morris did not contact him to give him any change in address or telephone number ( Tr. 897 ). Bretz prepared an accounting in connection with the criminal charges ( Ex. SC 27 ). As previously pointed out, Bretz charged mileage, meals and road expense on the Wyoming claim of $179.00; mileage for trips to Helena and Lewistown of $107.00, paid medical expenses $50.00 and long distance telephone calls and photocopies $22.00. All of these expenses total $358.00 which, when added to an attorney fee of one-third of recovery, $166.67, resulted in total costs and attorney fees of $524.67 or $24.67 in excess of the recovery. Thus by Bretz' accounting, with Morris receiving nothing, Morris is indebted to him in the amount of $24.67. Morris, under date of August 22, 1974, was interviewed by Investigator Lindsey from the office of the attorney representing Bretz and Exhibit SC 26 reflects the questions propounded