Opinion ID: 1227779
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: David E. Florence

Text: The respondent was retained by David E. Florence to bring suit against the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare to prevent his transfer to Kansas City. Florence was subsequently transferred to Kansas City, and the respondent was asked to bring a suit under the Freedom of Information Act to obtain agency records relating to the transfer decision. Florence advanced $50 for costs, agreed to pay the respondent $50 per hour for legal services, and paid substantial fees. The respondent filed a complaint for Florence in the United States District Court for Colorado under the Freedom of Information Act. The government responded by asserting that the District Court in Colorado lacked jurisdiction because Florence was no longer a resident of Colorado and was employed in Kansas City. The respondent confessed the motion, and the case was transferred to the United States District Court in Kansas City. Thereafter, Florence pursued his own claim and obtained the documents sought in the suit and was successful in securing a transfer back to Denver. The respondent told Florence that he would have the case transferred back to Denver so that costs and attorney fees could be recovered, but he never took the steps necessary to secure a transfer. An assistant United States Attorney in Kansas wrote the respondent and inquired about further action in the Freedom of Information Act case, but received no reply. Later, the same United States Attorney wrote the respondent and stated that the case should be transferred to Denver because Florence was now in Denver, and suggested that the respondent file the appropriate pleadings. No pleadings were filed, and no response was made to the letter. A third letter from the United States Attorney also received no response. The respondent failed to comply with the transfer requirements, and when respondent did not appear at a pretrial hearing in Kansas City, a magistrate recommended dismissal of the case unless respondent cured his neglect by July 15, 1982. The respondent took no action, and on August 10, 1982, the court issued an order to show cause why the case should not be dismissed for lack of prosecution. On November 3, 1982, the case was dismissed when no response was filed. The respondent told Florence that he had filed the proper motions to transfer the case to Colorado, but failed to produce the motion. No motion was ever filed. To justify his conduct, the respondent produced a letter that he purportedly sent to his client stating that the case could not be won and that dismissal, rather than transfer, was warranted. Florence denied receiving the letter and noted that the letter was sent to the wrong address. When Florence requested an accounting, he was told that the respondent's time records were stolen from his automobile. C.R.C.P. 241.6(1) describes professional misconduct as any act or omission which violates the provisions of the Code of Professional Responsibility. The respondent, in representing Florence, violated DR 1-102(A)(1) by violating a disciplinary rule. He violated DR 1-102(A)(4) and (5) by engaging in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, and misrepresentation, which was prejudicial to the administration of justice. [2]