Opinion ID: 1883843
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Counts I & II The Lines Matter

Text: In 2001, Ronald D. Lines hired respondent to represent him in a criminal matter. Respondent failed to communicate with Mr. Lines and failed to expedite the criminal case. Respondent also withdrew nearly $40,000 from Mr. Lines' bank accounts pursuant to a power of attorney; [1] however, respondent did not comply with Mr. Lines' requests for an accounting of these funds, nor did he comply with Mr. Lines' instructions as to the disbursement of the funds. Eventually, respondent paid $2,500 to Mr. Lines' son and $18,630 to the attorney who succeeded him as counsel for Mr. Lines. Respondent converted the remaining funds, $17,809.71, to his own use. In 2002, Mr. Lines filed a complaint against respondent with the ODC. Respondent failed to cooperate with the ODC in its investigation of the complaint. The ODC alleges that 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), 1.5 (failure to refund an unearned fee), 1.15(a), 1.15(b), 1.16(d) (obligations upon termination of the representation), 3.2 (failure to make reasonable efforts to expedite litigation), 8.4(a), 8.4(b) (commission of a criminal act reflecting adversely on the lawyer's honesty, trustworthiness, or fitness as a lawyer), 8.4(c), 8.4(d), and 8.4(g) (failure to cooperate with the ODC in its investigation).