Opinion ID: 2611420
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: dui

Text: In March 1996, Yattaw's son retained the respondent to represent him on a charge of driving under the influence of alcohol. Yattaw paid the respondent a $900 flat fee. The respondent entered an appearance on his client's behalf in April 1996 and then performed no more legal work on the case. The Yattaws' attempts to reach the respondent after June 1996 were fruitless. Yattaw's son hired another lawyer to represent him in July or August 1996, who also was unsuccessful in contacting the respondent or getting him to file a notice of substitution of counsel or of withdrawal. The respondent failed to appear at the pretrial conference on August 5, 1996. The new lawyer's firm then entered its appearance in the DUI case. Although requested to do so, the respondent has not returned any of the $900 fee he was paid. The foregoing conduct violated Colo. RPC 1.3 (neglect); Colo. RPC 1.4(a) (failing to communicate); Colo. RPC 1.15(b) (failing to return client funds); Colo. RPC 1.16(d) (failing to protect a client's interests and to return client property following termination of employment); and Colo. RPC 8.4(c) (engaging in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation).