Opinion ID: 2500868
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Samuel Matter

Text: Respondent represented Christina Samuel in a medical malpractice action in Darlington County, captioned 2000-CP-16-0076, for injuries allegedly caused to her daughter during childbirth in 1997. By order dated March 22, 2001, the circuit court granted the defendants' motion for summary judgment and dismissed the case with prejudice for Respondent's failure to answer discovery and failure to prosecute. In so ruling, the court found that Respondent had failed to provide any discovery as to potential experts and failed to provide any expert affidavits to support an alleged deviation from the standard of care. With respect to Respondent's failure to prosecute, the judge noted that Respondent had sought multiple continuances as to the defendants' motion to dismiss. Based on Respondent's failure to appear at a scheduled hearing, the circuit court issued an order dated June 30, 2000, which stated Dickey is on notice that a subsequent failure to appear without prior approval by the court may result in any sanctions the presiding judge may deem appropriate; the sending of a fax without the court's subsequent approval is insufficient to excuse any failure to appear. The defendants' motion to dismiss was ultimately heard via conference call. Subsequently, a hearing was set for the defendants' motions for summary judgment on the morning of Monday, March 12, 2001. On March 12, 2001, the court received a faxed letter from Respondent in which he requested a continuance. Respondent did not fax the letter to defense counsel, but instead left a telephone message sometime over the weekend informing counsel of the continuance request. Without receiving prior approval from the court, Respondent failed to appear at the scheduled hearing. Respondent appealed the circuit court's order dismissing Samuel's case to the Court of Appeals. The Court of Appeals summarily affirmed the circuit court's order. Samuel v. Brown et al., Op. No. 2003-UP-751 (S.C. Ct.App. filed Dec. 18, 2003). This Court denied Respondent's petition for a writ of certiorari to review the decision of the Court of Appeals. When questioned by the Hearing Panel regarding his representation of Samuel, Respondent claimed that he continued to represent her but was unsure whether he had advised her that certiorari was denied by this Court. Respondent admitted that it had been years since he had spoken with Samuel and that he had never informed her of his Interim Suspension. In his defense, Respondent attempted to establish that he was unable to get in contact with Samuel because her telephone was always turned off and her address had changed from that listed on the fee agreement. Samuel testified the last time she spoke with Respondent was approximately four or five years ago when he informed her that the case was being appealed to the Supreme Court. Samuel stated that Respondent never explained to her why the case had been dismissed. She further testified that she first learned the status of her case two weeks before the panel hearing when Bogan met with her regarding her testimony.