Opinion ID: 1386894
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The Fields Matter

Text: In June 1986, Jerry Fields paid petitioner $500 to file a criminal appeal on behalf of his father, who was out of custody on bail. Petitioner told Fields at that time that he would postpone filing until the last minute to extend the elder Fields's time out of custody. Petitioner occasionally returned Fields's calls, assuring Fields that all documents were being timely filed. By letter dated October 24, 1986, petitioner was notified by the court that the opening brief in People v. Fields was overdue and that the appeal would be dismissed if the brief was not received by the court within 30 days. Petitioner requested and received an extension of time to file the opening brief until December 2, 1986. He never filed the brief, however. In February 1987, Fields's father received notice that he was to appear in court regarding a remittitur that had been issued. Petitioner advised Fields that his father did not need to appear and that petitioner would arrange for the remittitur to be recalled. In April 1987, Fields's father voluntarily appeared in court, where his nonappearance was excused and his bail was exonerated. He was remanded to prison because his appeal had been dismissed. He served his sentence and was released in February 1988. The hearing judge, after reviewing Fields's declaration, tentatively found that the State Bar had borne out the charges [filed with respect to this matter], ... In his decision, however, the judge was unable to conclude that Fields had suffered prejudice as a result of petitioner's misconduct, observing that petitioner was not primarily responsible for the client being jailed.