Opinion ID: 6351441
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Charge II ([E])

Text: On or about October 14, 1972, [E] of [ ] County, died as a result of injuries he sustained when struck by an automobile driven by [F], who was insured by [G] Insurance Company. Within about two weeks of [E]’s death, respondent was retained by decedent’s widow, [ ], and son, [ ], to initiate and prosecute a wrongful death and/or survival action against [F]. As part of respondent’s investigation of the [E] matter, he went to the scene of the accident during the nighttime hours and during the day on a couple of occasions. He talked to people who lived in the area and went into the bar where [E] was coming from before he was hit, met with the coroner’s office and interviewed and talked to the police department that investigated the accident. He further secured copies of the coroner’s report. Respondent failed to initiate any litigation on behalf of [E’s widow and son] and any cause of action they had against [F] would now be barred by the applicable statutes of limitation. On numerous occasions since being retained, respondent misrepresented to [E’s widow and son] that he had initiated litigation on their behalf and that he was negotiating a settlement with [G] Insurance Company when he, in fact, had not done so. During cross-examination, respondent testified he believed he began lying to [E’s widow and son] in 1976 or 1977. On or about August 10, 1978, almost six years after [E]’s death, respondent misrepresented to [E’s widow and son] that he had negotiated a settlement offer from [G] Insurance Company in the total amount of $10,500. At that time, respondent mailed [E’s widow] his personal check for $7,875 along with a purported settlement sheet which indicated that the total settlement was $10,500, that respondent’s legal fees were $2,650 and that the net settlement payable to [E’s widow] was $7,875. Thereafter, [E’s widow] negotiated the check for $7,875, but did not execute or return the settlement sheet as respondent had requested. Since August of 1978, both [E’s widow] and her son have attempted to obtain more information concerning the purported settlement from respondent; however, he ignored their inquiries. Respondent never informed [E’s widow and son] that he failed to initiate any action on their behalf, that he never negotiated any settlement with [G] Insurance Company, that he fabricated the purported $10,500 settlement or that they may have a cause of action against him for malpractice.