Opinion ID: 2071683
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Dave R. MillerBurfield

Text: Mr. Miller was charged with an alcohol-related offense in the spring of 1989. In response to a written solicitation from Ficker, he contacted Ficker's office on June 17, 1989. Mr. Burfield, who had replaced Mr. Williams as Ficker's assistant, met Miller on the parking lot of the Holiday Inn in Frederick. Ficker was in the vicinity earlier but apparently did not remain to meet with Mr. Miller. AGC's complaint arose from the fact that Burfield, on his own, charged Miller $60 for the initial interview and took a check for $60 from Miller, payable to Burfield. There was evidence that Burfield had done that with respect to other clients as well. In its petition, AGC alleged that Burfield regularly and repeatedly interviewed and advised [Ficker's] clients, took money from new clients on his own behalf and misled and or allowed [Ficker's] clients to believe he was an attorney. AGC further claimed that [d]espite [Ficker's] knowledge of Mr. Burfield's activities, he took no remedial action and otherwise failed to supervise him. That lapse, it alleged, constituted a violation of MLRPC Rules 5.3 (failure to supervise a non-lawyer employee) and 8.4(d) (conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice). Judge Ferretti found no violation of either rule. He concluded that (1) at the time of the Miller matter, Ficker was unaware of what Burfield was doing, and (2) when, in July, 1989, Ficker discovered that conduct, he reprimanded Burfield, put an immediate stop to the practice, refunded the money Burfield had charged the various clients, and docked Burfield's pay for the cost of the refund. Because Miller had stopped payment on his check, there was no need for Ficker to reimburse him. Judge Ferretti found that, although Burfield did regularly interview Ficker's clients, there was no ethical bar to a non-lawyer interviewing clients. Judge Ferretti further found that Burfield did not render any legal advice. Neither party has excepted to the findings or conclusions in this matter.