Opinion ID: 2405010
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Board's Analysis

Text: The Board's conclusions of law with respect to the underlying charges of professional misconduct, as set forth in its Report, are as follows: Elgart, in both his Answer to the Amended Petition for Discipline and his testimony, admits all of the material factual allegations upon which the request for disciplinary action is based or indicates that he cannot recall a fact but does not contest it. The testimony presented by the ODC of the complainant, Lonnie Britford, and his friend, Lukisha Normand, who accompanied Mr. Britford on a number of visits to Mattleman, Weinroth to attempt to speak to Elgart to learn about the status of his matter was uncontroverted. This, along with the admissions by Elgart of his faults, establish that the ODC has met its burden of proving by clear and convincing evidence violations of Rules 1.3, 1.4(a)(3), 1.4(a)(4), 1.15(d), and 8.1(b) as set forth in Counts II through VI of the Amended Petition for Discipline. Elgart denies that he violated Rule 1.1, arguing that the limited legal services he performed for Britford were performed competently. The Board finds that the ODC met its burden of establishing by clear and convincing evidence that Elgart violated Rule 1.1 by failing to distribute to Britford the insurance proceeds received from Progressive for approximately seven years after they were received. Although initially received by the firm at a time when another attorney, Nowak, represented Britford, Elgart testified that he reviewed Nowak's files at the time he was leaving. Britford's file was among these and Elgart produced a time entry for December 20, 2002 when he reviewed the file. Elgart also did not contest Britford's recollection of a telephone call from Elgart and meeting in 2003 during which the check and its disbursement were discussed. Although Elgart does not recall the 2003 call or meeting, he does recall contact with Britford in 2008 and knowledge of the then-stale check. Elgart further testified that although he contacted Progressive about obtaining a good check for Britford in the amount of $15,000 to replace the stale one, he failed to return the stale check and provide a signed release, as required by Progressive.