Opinion ID: 1727470
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 24

Heading: Count VIII The Veal Matter

Text: In February 2003, Chette Veal paid respondent $1,500 to appear on his behalf at a March 10, 2003 hearing on a motion to increase child support. On March 11, 2003, respondent informed Mr. Veal that the motion to increase support had been denied because he had not been properly served with the motion. On March 13, 2003, Mr. Veal received a bench warrant notification from the Support Enforcement Agency advising that no one was present at the hearing, and that his child support obligation had been increased from $111 to $446.25 a month, effective immediately. Mr. Veal then learned that respondent had never contacted the agency to advise of her representation. By letter dated March 19, 2003, Mr. Veal terminated respondent's representation and requested that she refund the attorney's fee he paid. Respondent did not comply with Mr. Veal's request until May 2003. She also failed to cooperate with the ODC in its investigation of the complaint filed by Mr. and Mrs. Veal.