Opinion ID: 2196922
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Trout Matter

Text: Russell Trout paid respondent $2,200 to represent him in a property dispute in Wisconsin, where respondent is not licensed to practice. In November 1990, opposing counsel took Trout's deposition, but objected to respondent's appearing without being accompanied by a Wisconsin attorney. Respondent stated that he was associated with Wisconsin counsel, but the referee found this was not true. Later, opposing counsel noticed a motion for summary judgment to be heard on February 1, 1991. By this time respondent had retained local Wisconsin counsel. Respondent told local counsel he would be at the hearing; instead, respondent did not appear, nor did he file any papers in response to the motion. The trial court took the motion under advisement but indicated he would rule against Trout on the primary issue. Trout was not advised of these events. Respondent caused to be filed a third party claim, which was dismissed by the trial court as untimely filed. (Wisconsin law allows filing of a third party complaint without leave of the court only during the first 6 months following commencement of the action.) Respondent then noticed a motion for leave to file the third party claim, setting the hearing date unilaterally without informing the court or clearing it with the scheduling clerk. Then, to top it off, as the Wisconsin judge put it, respondent did not show up for the hearing except by telephone. The court sanctioned respondent $350 and granted the opposing party summary judgment. Not until May 1991 did respondent advise his client of these developments. Respondent promised to refund $1,600 of the retainer, but he never did. In conciliation court, the client was awarded $2,216; on respondent's appeal to district court, the district court awarded the client $4,616. None of this has been paid.