Opinion ID: 1415535
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The Minus Matter

Text: In September 2000, Client hired Respondent to represent him in a Title VII suit against Client's former employer (Defendant). Respondent filed a complaint on behalf of Client but never had it verified. After some investigation, Respondent concluded that Client's claims lacked merit but never told Client and never sought to dismiss the lawsuit. After Respondent failed to timely respond to Defendant's multiple discovery requests, Defendant filed a motion to compel. The trial court ordered Respondent to comply with the discovery requests, but he did not comply. The trial court issued two additional orders directing Respondent to comply with Defendant's discovery requests. Respondent again failed to respond until Defendant filed a motion for costs and fees. [2] Defendant filed a motion for summary judgment and Respondent did not respond. Respondent told Client about the motion for summary judgment, but he did not tell Client that he had decided not to respond to it. The Magistrate issued a Report and Recommendation for summary judgment, citing as grounds Respondent's failure to file a verified complaint, failure to comply with discovery, and failure to respond to the motion for summary judgment. Respondent did not respond to the report, and summary judgment was granted. Despite Respondent's nine meetings with Client after summary judgment was granted, Respondent never told Client that Client's case had been dismissed. After some time, Client sent a certified letter to Respondent, requesting a copy of his file and enclosing a check for $100.00 for copying and shipping costs. Respondent ignored Client's request. When Client finally confronted Respondent in Respondent's office, Respondent gave him a copy of the file; however, the copy did not include the summary judgment order. Client finally learned that his case had been dismissed upon obtaining a copy of the file from the clerk of court.