Opinion ID: 2353346
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Complaint of Louis and Mary Behrendt

Text: In August, 1977, the Behrendts engaged Respondent to pursue a claim they considered they had against a realty company regarding its alleged inaction in selling their home. The Behrendts were building a new home which, subsequently, was completed in 1979. The basis of this complaint was the inability of the Behrendts to get in touch with Respondent for long periods of time. Initially, from September, 1977, to July, 1978, there was no contact. In July, 1978, Respondent did forward a petition (apparently a declaration) to the Behrendts, which they signed and returned to him in September, 1978. The Behrendts testified they had no contact with Respondent thereafter for two years although they tried to call him. It appears that a suit was filed in April, 1980, but the Behrendts did not know of this until they themselves contacted the Circuit Court for Baltimore County. Still not hearing from Respondent, the Behrendts engaged new counsel in November, 1980. The hearing judge, having found substantially the above facts, concluded that Respondent violated Disciplinary Rules 1-102 (A) (1) and 6-101 (A) (3) which specifically concern the neglect of a legal matter entrusted to a lawyer. Again, while the Commission charged Respondent with other Rule violations, it has taken no exception to the failure of the hearing judge to consider such violations. We do not address them either, finding no clear and convincing evidence in support thereof. We have reviewed the record and, again, agree with the trial judge.