Opinion ID: 2060466
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Three Violations Found by the Hearing Committee.

Text: Three of the violations found by the Board were also those found by the Hearing Committee. Substantial evidence in the record supports each finding that respondent violated the respective District of Columbia rules of professional responsibility, [6] as follows: a. Rule 1.3(c) (failing to act with reasonable promptness in representing a client). The evidence showed that respondent did not resume his contact with representatives of State Farm even after he had secured the favorable Nationwide settlement in July 1989. He delayed filing suit against State Farm until September 1992, over three years later and almost five years after the hit-and-run accident. Finally, he totally failed to respond to State Farm's offer to settle for the full amount available under the policies. Respondent argues that West Virginia rules of professional responsibility prevented him from pursuing the State Farm matter once he filed suit. Specifically, he claims that West Virginia's rule on unauthorized practice prevented him from acting on the case until the West Virginia court decided his motion for admission pro hac vice. However, the possibility that his entry into settlement negotiations might have violated a West Virginia rule does not explain the three-year delay between the Nationwide settlement and his decision to file suit in a West Virginia court. Furthermore, from September 1992, when he filed the motion, until April 1994, when he was discharged by Wheaton, respondent made no effort to request a hearing on the motion or otherwise pursue his admission pro hac vice. If respondent felt that he could not pursue the State Farm case without violating a West Virginia rule governing unauthorized practice, then he should have withdrawn promptly or taken other appropriate steps. b. Rule 1.4(a) (failing to keep client reasonably informed about the status of the matter). The evidence showed that respondent did not inform his clients that he had filed a lawsuit on their behalf until eighteen months after it was filed. He did not inform them that State Farm had made a very favorable settlement offer. Respondent did not return his client's telephone calls and other requests for information promptly. c. Rule 1.16(d) (failing to return the client's papers). This rule unambiguously requires an attorney to surrender a client's file upon termination of the representation. There is a limited exception, Rule 1.8(i), which allows an attorney to retain his own work product until the client pays for the work. Although respondent does not appear to have been paid for his State Farm services, he cannot rely on the Rule 1.8(i) exception because he refused to surrender all documents until his clients signed a general release from liability. [7]