Opinion ID: 1849814
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Representation of Jacqueline Bradley

Text: On April 5, 1996, Bradley was injured at a Shopko store in Lincoln when boxes of card tables fell from a shelf and landed on her head and neck. Although Bradley continued to shop after the accident, she did file a report with Shopko before leaving the premises. On April 29, Bradley retained James, under a contingent fee arrangement, to represent her in a claim for damages against Shopko. Bradley was familiar with James because he had previously represented her in a personal injury case. During her initial meeting with James, Bradley described the events of the accident and the nature of her injuries. Bradley provided James with the name of Shopko's insurance company, as well as the name and telephone number of the assigned insurance adjuster. Bradley also told James that two women had witnessed the injury, but that she did not know the witnesses or how to reach them. On May 30, 1996, James visited the Shopko store with Bradley. James did not visit with any Shopko employees during his time at the store. On the same day, James took Bradley's statement regarding the accident. James advised Bradley to continue her medical care until she reached full recovery and to contact him thereafter. James stated that this had been the procedure he followed during the handling of Bradley's prior claim. After the meeting, James did not contact Shopko to see if there was an accident report, nor did he make an attempt to locate the witnesses to the accident or contact Shopko's insurance company. James did not meet with Bradley again until January 18, 1999. During this meeting, Bradley informed James that she was nearing the end of her medical treatment. After meeting with Bradley on January 18, 1999, James contacted Bradley's medical providers to gather her medical records. James also requested that Bradley provide him with documentation from her employer in order to verify lost wages. After receiving and reviewing Bradley's medical records, James took no additional steps regarding her claim until November, when he met with Bradley to discuss her case. At the November 1999 meeting, Bradley told James that she had been diagnosed with lung cancer, but that it was not terminal. During that meeting, James again requested that Bradley provide him with documentation concerning her lost wages so that he could prepare a demand letter to Shopko's insurer. After this meeting, James took no further steps regarding the case, nor did he hear from Bradley. Over 3 years had passed since James had first met with Bradley to discuss the accident. Bradley died on January 27, 2000. James learned of her death a few days later while skimming through the obituary section of the local newspaper. After learning of Bradley's death, James did not contact her husband, Craig Bradley (Craig), nor did James attempt to contact any possible personal representative of her estate. The 4-year statute of limitations for Bradley's claim expired on April 5, 2000. Craig attempted to contact James in May, but he was not successful. James contends that he never received any telephone calls or messages from Craig. On May 22, 2000, Craig's attorney wrote to James requesting an update on Bradley's case. James did not reply to this letter, but he does claim to have called Craig and to have left his name and telephone number on Craig's answering machine. On September 13, 2001, Craig sent a grievance to the Counsel for Discipline, alleging that James refused to update him on the status of Bradley's claim.