Opinion ID: 1807827
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: SPECIFICATION NUMBERS THREE, FOUR, FIVE and SIX

Text: These four specifications charge Alker with misconduct in connection with his representation of Douglas Ponson. Mr. Ponson hired Alker to represent him in a worker's compensation case which was settled for a lump sum of $40,000. Weekly benefits and medical expenses of $32,504.14 paid prior to the lump sum, brought the value of the settlement to $72,504.14. The maximum attorney's fee allowable on this amount is $8,250.42. [18] Alker had the Citizen's Bank and Trust Company in Covington, Louisiana, prepare money orders from the $40,000 settlement check as follows: (1) Money Order 61640 to Douglas Ponson $24,000 (2) Money Order 61641 to Edward C. Alker 4,000 (3) Money Order 61642 to Edward C. Alker 500 (4) Money Order 61643 to Edward C. Alker 500 (5) Money Order 61644 to Timothy Ellender 950 (6) Money Order 61646 to Edward C. Alker 8,000 The money orders total $37,950, including four money orders amounting to $13,000 and made payable to Alker. Alker is unable to account for $2,050. Specification number three charges Alker made an unsatisfactory accounting to Ponson for the $2,050 and charged an excessive fee. It is undisputed that Ponson received $24,000 of the settlement. Alker contends he received only $1,500 as his fee and $950 went to Mr. Ellender, Ponson's former attorney. Alker in fact benefited from the remaining $14,500 [19] of the settlement. According to Ponson, Alker said he would invest this balance and make Ponson a rich young man; [20] Alker never accounted to Ponson for the money and now contends the money was paid to him for past legal representation. [21] This defense was not substantiated during the Committee hearings and the Commissioner's hearing. Alker's actions violated LSA-R.S. 23:1141 and four disciplinary rules. [22] Specification number four alleges Alker falsely informed attorney Timothy Ellender that $1,500 was the total fee for representing Ponson in the worker's compensation case. Consequently, Ellender agreed to accept $950 as his portion of the fee. A letter from Ellender to Alker substantiated this charge. [23] Following Ponson's complaint to the Committee, Alker changed his story concerning the fee he collected. Alker, whose credibility was called into question throughout the proceedings, took various positions concerning the fee. Overwhelming evidence establishes that Alker misrepresented the fee to Ellender with the intention of retaining for himself at least the statutory maximum fee. Alker violated two disciplinary rules. [24] Specification number five alleges that Alker caused Ponson to sign three false documents: one confirmed a $1,500 fee was paid to Alker; another acknowledged Ponson received $38,500 of the settlement; and a third, an affidavit, indicated the lump sum settlement was $40,000 and the sum total of the attorney's fees was $1,500. Alker relied on these documents to establish that he received only $1,500. This is in direct conflict with his admission that Ponson received only $24,000. [25] The documents are not a true reflection of the settlement disbursement. Again, Alker violated two disciplinary rules. [26] Specification number six accuses Alker of rendering little or no service in exchange for an $8,000 retainer, charging an excessive fee for a worker's compensation case and testifying falsely that the excessive funds constituted a retainer. Alker testified he contracted with Ponson to perform future legal services in exchange for an $8,000 retainer; [27] Ponson denied this. [28] In support, Alker presented two letters written on behalf of Ponson; the letters, however, were drafted prior to the settlement. The sole evidence that Alker performed services in exchange for the retainer was an incomplete set of articles of incorporation. Alker retained the $8,000 as part of a legal fee from the settlement. Whether the $8,000 was a retainer for little or no work or constituted an excessive fee, Alker violated two disciplinary rules. [29]