Opinion ID: 1715097
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Byrne matter

Text: David Byrne retained Grzybek to commence a lawsuit. Grzybek commenced the lawsuit and filed a motion for a temporary restraining order. The district court denied the motion and Grzybek advised Byrne that he should appeal the decision. Byrne agreed and gave Grzybek $250 to pay the filing fee. On April 26, 1996, Grzybek filed the appeal documents, together with a check for $250. The check was returned for insufficient funds in his account. Grzybek's brief to the court was due on or about May 12, 1996, but he filed no brief. After numerous requests for repayment of the fee and submission of briefs, the court of appeals dismissed the appeal and issued an order directing entry of a $250 judgment against Grzybek personally. Grzybek did not satisfy the judgment. In the same matter, Grzybek on April 3, 1996 argued a motion requesting a waiver of the supersedeas bond. The district court denied the motion on April 17, 1996 and directed Byrne to post a supersedeas bond and pay defendants' reasonable attorney fees and costs in the amount of $500. Byrne subsequently gave Grzybek $500 to pay the attorney fees and costs, and Grzybek issued a check for $500, which was returned for insufficient funds. The court on April 22, 1996 ordered Grzybek to remit payment of $500, but he did not comply with or notify Byrne of the court's order. The defendants' attorney wrote Grzybek and proposed to forgo any claim for additional attorney fees and costs in exchange for a dismissal of the claim with prejudice. Grzybek did not notify Byrne of the offer or respond to defendants' counsel. The court of appeals ultimately garnisheed Byrne's wages to collect the $500 in attorney fees and costs awarded on April 17, 1996. The garnishment was the first notice Byrne received that the $500 had not been paid. The defendants subsequently filed and served Grzybek with motions for summary judgment and attorney fees, a matter of which Byrne did not become aware until he had retained Thomas Casey as his counsel. Casey on August 7, 1996 sent a letter to Grzybek discharging him as Byrne's counsel and requesting the return of the client file. After a number of unreturned phone calls, Grzybek on August 24, 1996 delivered to Casey the pleadings portion of the Byrne file. Casey requested that Grzybek return the remainder of the file, including the substitution-of-attorney form and the defendants' June 19, 1996 settlement proposal. Grzybek returned neither.