Opinion ID: 2376283
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: complainant: patricia r. taylor

Text: In or about 1994 the Complainant retained the Respondent to file suit against another attorney. The original attorney had been employed by the Complainant to prosecute a civil action for damages as a result of a slip and fall in an Acme Market grocery store that had taken place in or about 1990 or 1991. The original attorney had failed to diligently pursue the legal matter and the statute of limitations ran precluding recovery. Although that attorney had offered a cash settlement he properly suggested the client consult with counsel before settling. It was in connection with the settlement for legal malpractice against the original attorney that the Respondent was consulted. By complaint dated October 4, 1999, the client complained the Respondent had failed to pursue her claim against the original attorney, and was refusing to return her phone calls. By letter dated October 15, 1999 the Respondent was provided a copy of the original complaint of Ms. Taylor, informed the complaint had been docketed bearing BC Docket Number XXXX-XXX-XX-X, and requested that he respond to the allegations in her complaint within fifteen days of the date of that letter. The notice letter to the Respondent pointed out to him his obligations under Maryland Rule of Professional Conduct 8.1. The Respondent failed to respond. By certified letter dated November 4, 1999 the original complaint and the letter dated October 15th were forwarded to the Respondent again. This correspondence requested a reply within ten days of the date of the letter and again reminded the Respondent of his obligations under Maryland Rule of Professional Conduct 8.1. The letter was delivered on November 8, 1999 as evidenced by the Respondent's own signature on the return receipt. The Respondent failed to respond. Petitioner assigned an investigator to initiate the investigation necessary due to Respondent's failure to provide the requested information and response. The investigator attempted to contact the Respondent by telephone on December 1, 1999 and was told Respondent was not in his office. The investigator left a message with the secretary requesting the Respondent return his call and reminding the secretary that the Respondent had a long overdue written response to the complaint in this particular matter. On December 2, 1999 the investigator again attempted to contact the Respondent and was told the Respondent was `at settlement.' Another message was left requesting the Respondent return the call. No return call was made to the investigator. On December 8, 1999 another attempt by the investigator was made to contact the Respondent by telephone. At that time the secretary informed the investigator the Respondent was on the telephone. After waiting a period of time on hold the secretary informed the investigator that Respondent was still on the telephone at which time the investigator left yet another message for Respondent to call him. The Respondent failed to return that call. Finally on December 16, 1999 the investigator made a last attempt to contact Respondent by telephone. He was informed, again, that the Respondent was on another line. After waiting a reasonable period of time he was told by the secretary that the Respondent was still on the phone and the investigator left yet another message. By letter dated December 16, 1999 the investigator memorialized all of his efforts to contact the Respondent and forwarded that letter to the Respondent with an instruction to provide a written response within ten days of the receipt of that letter. That letter of December 16th was sent certified mail and was delivered on December 20, 1999 as evidence by the Respondent's own signature on the return receipt. No response was forthcoming. On December 21, 1999 the investigator again called the Respondent, who took the phone call this time. A meeting was arranged for January 5, 1999. At that meeting the Respondent stated he did not have the file but that he had provided it to the Complainant on some uncertain day earlier. During that meeting the Respondent indicated the Complainant had wanted to receive $25,000 as compensation for the claim against the original attorney. During the interview with the Respondent the investigator questioned him about an allegation in the complaint that he had received $500. Respondent contended the Complainant first met with him after 1994 but that it was a free consultation and the $500 was for some other matter. Despite his obligation under Rule 1.15(a) to maintain financial records for at least five years after the completion of a legal matter, the Respondent did not have any evidence of the receipt of the $500, nor could he provide documentation for the legal matter, other than the legal malpractice, for which he contended he was retained. During this meeting the Respondent `promised' that if there were ever another complaint he would respond immediately. In the follow up interview [with] the Complainant, after meeting with Respondent, it was established the Complainant went to the Respondent's office on December 31, 1999 and obtained her file. During that meeting the Respondent informed the Complainant he was willing to pay her $25,000 to forget the matter. She indicated she refused that offer. During that meeting the Respondent admitted to the Complainant that the original attorney was no longer involved since he, the Respondent, `let the statute run as far as [the other attorney's legal case] was concerned.' It was in that December 31st meeting that the Respondent said he would have the file ready for her to pick up the following week. On January 4th, in the company of a friend, the Complainant did obtain her file from the Respondent's office. The Complainant, during her interview with the investigator, indicated she would have telephone discussions with the Respondent `a couple of times each year' between the period 1997 and the filing of her complaint. Those discussion[s] were always highlighted by the Respondent indicating that he was `waiting for a court date.' That was a misrepresentation, Respondent had never initiated the filing of any law suit. On January 24, 2000 the Respondent paid to the Complainant $35,000 by check on that date drawn against his personal account with the Bank of the Eastern Shore. This was done without the knowledge of, or notice to, the Petitioner. It was not until an inquiry panel was convened to consider the allegations of the Complainant and the intentions of the Respondent on September 27, 2001 that Petitioner was made aware the Complainant did not feel she could give testimony about her complaint due to the financial settlement she reached with the Respondent. During that hearing, it was ascertained the Complainant did not receive a copy of a release or a statement of settlement although she contended she signed a document. As a result, the inquiry panel was unable to substantively question the Complainant about matters to which she complained, and for clarification of matters about which the Respondent offered testimony.