Opinion ID: 1368677
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The Pietzes

Text: The record contains clear and convincing evidence that respondent became the Pietzes' attorney for handling the adoption. At their initial meeting, respondent agreed to represent the Pietzes if they found a baby to adopt. Clearly, the Pietzes sought out respondent's legal assistance at that time. In referring the pregnant woman through Iverson to respondent for independent placement, the Pietzes had every reason to rely on respondent's original promise that he would represent them in the adoption. Furthermore, the referral of the natural mother by the Pietzes indicates that they understood that the attorney-client relationship with respondent was ongoing. The relationship was not terminated until they wrote to respondent in June 1983, and expressly stated they were discharging him as their attorney. Even accepting respondent's argument that an attorney-client relationship was subject to the condition that the Pietzes locate a baby, correspondence between the respondent and the Pietzes immediately after respondent's first meeting with the natural mother belies respondent's contention that he did not know that the natural mother had been referred to him by the Pietzes. Respondent's letter to the Pietzes indicated that the person who had made the appointment for the natural mother indicated that the Pietzes might be interested in the adoption. Furthermore, respondent stated in the letter, I would not expect to have any problem in placing the child but I thought we should write to determine your interest in the placement. The Pietzes unequivocally stated in their response that they were  very hopeful to adopt the baby. In addition, in their letter the Pietzes alluded to circumstances regarding the natural mother which were not communicated to them by respondent in his original letter. If nothing else, respondent surely should have realized from their letter that the Pietzes were involved in the referral of the baby's mother. Respondent also argues that no attorney-client relationship developed because the Pietzes were equivocal in their response. He points to the Pietzes' questions about when the baby was due, what their expenses in the adoption would be, and where the father of the unborn child fit in. We find that these were natural questions by any prospective adoptive parents and they do not negate the existing attorney-client relationship. Instead, they reinforce the existence of a relationship because they are evidence that the Pietzes continued to seek legal advice from respondent. Furthermore, the fact that the Pietzes wrote back to respondent within eight days to indicate their desire to adopt the child is inconsistent with respondent's characterization of the Pietzes' response as equivocal. We agree with the Commission's finding that there was an attorney-client relationship between respondent and the Pietzes.