Opinion ID: 1566350
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Count IThe Boyd Matter

Text: In December 2000, Baton Rouge attorney Drew Louviere asked respondent to be lead counsel in the representation of Allen Boyd, who was involved in two car accidents, one in Georgia and one in Louisiana. [1] The Georgia car accident occurred on February 22, 2000 and was subject to a two-year prescription period. Respondent agreed to associate a Georgia attorney as local counsel for the Georgia case but failed to do so, despite corresponding with a Georgia attorney in January, June, and October 2001. On January 3, 2002 and February 11, 2002, Mr. Louviere contacted respondent to find out if he had obtained a Georgia attorney and to remind him of the approaching prescription date. On February 12, 2002, respondent informed Mr. Louviere that I've got the Ga. matter taken care of. Don't worry. Respondent prepared a lawsuit as a pro se filing and affixed to it a signature purporting to be Mr. Boyd's without having Mr. Boyd's power of attorney or other proper legal written authority to sign his name. On February 21, 2002, respondent forwarded the lawsuit to the clerk of court for Cobb County (Georgia) Superior Court, and the clerk of court's office filed it on February 22, 2002. Respondent did not inform the Cobb County Superior Court that the signature on the lawsuit was not Mr. Boyd's. Respondent also failed to submit forms necessary to have the lawsuit assigned to a judge and served. The clerk's office returned to respondent a date-stamped copy of the lawsuit and the required forms. Respondent did not return the required forms. Accordingly, the lawsuit was not assigned to a judge or timely served. In April 2003, February 2004, and July 2004, Mr. Louviere asked respondent about the settlement status of Mr. Boyd's Georgia case. In July 2004, respondent's office informed Mr. Louviere that respondent was preparing a settlement package in Mr. Boyd's case. In September 2004, respondent still had not submitted the settlement package, and Mr. Louviere demanded he return Mr. Boyd's file. Respondent returned the file to Mr. Louviere on September 10, 2004. The ODC alleged respondent's conduct violated the following provisions of the Rules of Professional Conduct: Rules 1.3 (failure to act with reasonable diligence and promptness in representing a client), 1.4 (failure to communicate with a client), 3.3 (candor toward the tribunal), 4.1 (truthfulness in statements to others), 8.4(b) (commission of a criminal act that reflects adversely on the lawyer's honesty, trustworthiness, or fitness as a lawyer), 8.4(c) (engaging in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation), and 8.4(d) (engaging in conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice). Respondent stipulated that he violated Rules 1.3, 1.4, 8.4(c), and 8.4(d).