Opinion ID: 723894
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: facts

Text: 3 Mr. Young, an attorney in New Mexico, represented Fowler Brothers, a construction partnership, in the 1970s and 1980s. Mr. Young also operated a real estate development business at that time. In the late 1970s, Fowler Brothers began doing construction projects for Mr. Young. Mr. Young paid for Fowler Brothers' construction work at a reduced rate, and his payments were often deferred. During this period, Mr. Young and Fowler Brothers had an unwritten financial arrangement under which monies they owed one another for construction and legal services would be credited to or deducted from one another's account. This arrangement existed for over ten years. Mr. Young never advised the partners of Fowler Brothers, Ray and Floyd Fowler, at the time this arrangement was made or at any other time that they should talk to another attorney about this arrangement. Further, Mr. Young never talked to them about conflicts that might arise between him and the Fowlers as a result of the agreement for exchanging services, nor did he advise them to speak to another attorney about such potential conflicts. 4 In 1981, Mr. Young executed a promissory note in favor of the Fowlers in the amount of $16,892.82, which represented the amount Mr. Young owed them for construction services over and above what they owed him for legal services as of the date of the note. Mr. Young did not suggest to the Fowlers that they consult with another lawyer concerning the note at the time of its making, or in the course of the 1980s when the statute of limitations was running on the note. 5 In 1989, when Ray Fowler asked Mr. Young for a document showing the amount that Mr. Young owed the Fowlers, Mr. Young would not execute such a document. 3 The Fowlers then filed suit in New Mexico state district court against Mr. Young for the amount of the promissory note and other monies due on the account, totaling over $100,000, plus interest and punitive damages. As a defense, Mr. Young asserted that the statute of limitations barred Fowler Brothers' claims. The parties settled for $105,000 and reduced the settlement to a judgment. Mr. Young subsequently declared bankruptcy, after which Ray Fowler filed a complaint against Mr. Young with the New Mexico Disciplinary Board. The Disciplinary Board found insufficient evidence to support any allegations that Mr. Young ha[d] violated the [New Mexico] Rules of Professional Conduct. Aplt's App. at 26.