Opinion ID: 2333126
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Count II: The Wetherington Grievance

Text: ¶ 4 Jessica Wetherington hired Respondent on or about May 19, 2009, to represent her in a dispute with an automobile dealership. She paid him a retainer of $750.00 and advanced $312.00 for arbitration costs. Respondent told her he filed a request for arbitration and that a hearing was scheduled for December, 2009. No hearing took place, and Respondent failed to schedule a hearing. He also failed to respond to Wetherington's repeated requests for information about the status of the arbitration and to her requests for the return of her file. On October 18, 2010, the Bar mailed a copy of Wetherington's grievance to Respondent, directing him to respond within 20 days. He failed to respond to the grievance or to attend his deposition. The Bar alleges his actions constitute professional misconduct in violation of Rules 1.3, 1.4, 1.5 [8] and 8.4(c), [9] ORPC, and Rules 1.3 and 5.2, RGDP.