Opinion ID: 2056733
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: robert addison

Text: Robert Addison (Addison) retained respondent in May of 2005 to represent him on an employment issue and a claim under his short-term disability insurance policy. Addison agreed to compensate respondent at an hourly rate of $200 per hour for legal services provided, and Addison paid an initial retainer of $1,500. As in the Bini and Towle matters, respondent did not submit bills or invoices to Addison. In response to respondent's verbal requests for payment, Addison paid him a total of $5,000, including the initial retainer. The respondent acknowledged that he did not take any affirmative action on Addison's behalf with regard to the employment issue other than reviewing files and engaging in informal communications with the employer. When the disability insurance carrier asked respondent to provide documentation in support of the disability claim, he failed to do so. Accordingly, Addison's claim for additional disability insurance benefits was denied. In January 2006, Addison began making a series of requests for an accounting of the fees paid, for a copy of his file, and for information regarding his claims, but without success. When respondent belatedly submitted a final bill in November of 2007, he sought an additional payment of $2,972.20 from Addison. After Addison received this bill, he filed a disciplinary complaint. The conduct of respondent in his representation of Addison was in violation of the following Rules of Professional Conduct; Rules 1.1, 1.3, 1.5(a) [14] , and 1.16(d) [15] .