Opinion ID: 897642
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The Hart Matter

Text: [¶ 9] In the Stipulation and Consent to Discipline, Christensen stipulates that Michael Hart and his business, Cameo Homes, Inc., were longstanding clients of the Pearson Christensen law firm, as was Lumber Mart, Inc. In the fall of 2002, Lumber Mart asked Christensen to draft mechanic's liens on a debt owed by Cameo Homes. Christensen drafted the mechanic's liens and gave them to Lumber Mart, which recorded them. At the same time, Pearson Christensen partner Jon Jensen was representing Cameo Homes in a federal court action. [¶ 10] After drafting the mechanic's liens, Christensen agreed to represent Lumber Mart against the respective homeowners through enforcement of the mechanic's liens, while deferring a collection action against Cameo Homes to another attorney. When a third-party complaint brought Cameo Homes into the mechanic's lien enforcement proceedings as a named party, Christensen recognized the conflict and attempted to obtain a waiver, which was never received. Christensen continued to correspond with the parties and signed settlement documents as the attorney for Lumber Mart, Inc., reasoning that settlement of the cases rendered the conflict moot.