Opinion ID: 1530578
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: Complaint of Carroll Middleton

Text: In connection with this Complaint, the following facts were established by clear and convincing evidence at the hearings before this Court in April and May, 1996. This Complainant was introduced to the Respondent in the spring or summer of 1994 by Marian Turner, a mutual acquaintance. The Respondent met with Mr. Middleton at Ms. Turner's house. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss whether Mr. Milliken would review and evaluate a prior lawsuit in which Mr. Middleton was a party. The Respondent suggested at their meeting that Mr. Middleton's prior lawyer had not pursued the case in Mr. Middleton's best interest, and that Mr. Middleton had a potential lawsuit against that lawyer. Mr. Milliken agreed to review the file and think about how to pursue the case. After conferring with Mr. Morgan, who was also present, Mr. Milliken said his fee was $350.00 and asked Mr. Middleton to make the check out to Mr. Morgan, who Mr. Middleton understood was not an attorney. Mr. Middleton stated that he was never really sure what basis there was for the fee. The fee was never placed in an attorney trust account. At the request of Mr. Milliken, Mr. Middleton produced all of his files and documents. However, when Mr. Middleton tried to contact Mr. Milliken, he was unsuccessful. Mr. Middleton left several messages, but it took more than six months for Mr. Milliken to respond. When Mr. Milliken did respond, he agreed to return $250.00 and the files. However, Mr. Middleton received nothing from the Respondent. Mr. Milliken stated that he reviewed the files and sent an opinion letter, which he was unable to produce at the hearing because it was destroyed in the alleged fire. The Respondent had no documents, files, correspondence, or retainer agreements to evidence any work. Bar Counsel has established by clear and convincing evidence that the Respondent met with Mr. Middleton, agreed to perform legal services for him, collected a fee, cashed the check prior to performing any services, and then made himself unavailable to Mr. Middleton. Mr. Milliken ultimately promised to refund money to this client, but never did. Based on the Respondent's failure to communicate with Mr. Middleton after receiving his file and his negligence in acting to apprise Mr. Middleton regarding his case, this Court concludes that Mr. Milliken violated Maryland Rules 1.3 and 1.4(a) requiring him to act with diligence and to keep his client reasonably informed. By failing to perform any work on Mr. Middleton's behalf and charging a fee, the basis of which was not explained to the client, the Respondent violated Maryland Rule 1.5(a), (b) which obligates a lawyer to charge reasonable fees consistent with the amount of effort made on a client's behalf and to communicate the basis of the fee to the client. Here, Mr. Milliken charged $350.00 and did nothing. In addition, Mr. Milliken neglected to return Mr. Middleton's files and the fee which he did not earn. These actions are violative of Maryland Rule 1.16 which requires an attorney to surrender[] papers and property to which the client is entitled and refund[ ] any advance payment of fee that has not been earned. Finally, as admitted by the Respondent in Petitioner's Exhibit 2, it is clear that he violated Maryland Rule 8.1(b) by failing to respond to a lawful demand for information, in that he refused to answer letters from Bar Counsel regarding the above Complaint.