Opinion ID: 2622873
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: McGuin Grievance

Text: ¶ 4 Mr. Burtch represented Donna McGuin from approximately 1988 to the end of 1996 in separate, but related, matters. Twice during his representation of McGuin, Mr. Burtch incurred monetary sanctions for his conduct toward the court. Mr. Burtch tried McGuin's case in December 1993. During the course of the trial, McGuin rejected a settlement offer; the jury returned an adverse verdict. ¶ 5 McGuin has consistently maintained that she understood Mr. Burtch had agreed to a contingent fee agreement with payment of costs and sanctions. Mr. Burtch has at various times confirmed that he had agreed to a contingent fee agreement on the condition that McGuin pay some fees and provide him with sufficient funds to pay sanctions. Throughout this proceeding Mr. Burtch has maintained the original agreement was an hourly agreement which was converted to a contingent fee agreement before trial. ¶ 6 On January 29, 1997, Mr. Burtch sent McGuin an invoice claiming she owed his firm $11,738.24 in addition to amounts paid during the 1988 to 1996 period. On January 30, 1997, Mr. Burtch received a cover copy of McGuin's letter and a grievance cover sheet from the WSBA. Mr. Burtch sent the invoice to collection on April 2, 1997. McGuin's original letter to the WSBA appears to complain about Mr. Burtch requiring her to pay sanctions levied against him. The WSBA treated the letter as a grievance. ¶ 7 The relationship between Mr. Burtch and McGuin was the subject of a prior disciplinary hearing on September 11, 2000. During this proceeding Mr. Burtch testified he had an hourly fee agreement with his client, which was transformed into a contingent fee agreement. Mr. Burtch also testified the invoice had been sent in error. The hearing officer concluded Mr. Burtch owed McGuin $2,640.15 in restitution because he forced her to pay the sanctions which were levied against him, and recommended that he be suspended for a period of six months. Mr. Burtch appealed. ¶ 8 The Board heard Mr. Burtch's argument on appeal on April 13, 2001. Mr. Burtch again testified he had agreed to a contingent fee arrangement with McGuin. The Board reduced the hearing officer's recommended sanction to admonition based on its reversal of one count, and ordered Mr. Burtch to pay McGuin $2,640.15 with 12 percent interest on that amount from January 29, 1997, until paid in full. Mr. Burtch filed an exception to costs and expenses on August 1, 2001. The WSBA informed him the restitution payment was to be paid by September 5, 2002. The order became final September 19, 2002. ¶ 9 In an attempt to collect the restitution as ordered by the Board, McGuin filed an action in district court in 2004. Mr. Burtch defended this action by claiming he was entitled to an offset from the restitution by the amount contained in the invoice sent January 29, 1997. Mr. Burtch testified in district court that at all times his agreement with McGuin was for an hourly rate, not a contingent fee agreement, and McGuin owed him over $11,000. His testimony was very clear the payment agreement was always an hourly rate, but he had lost the hourly rate agreement, thus could not prove the billing agreement. Tr. of District Ct., WSBA Ex. A-6. This frivolous claim to an offset, after an explicit order from the WSBA to pay the amount in full, constitutes a violation of RPC 3.1. ¶ 10 The district court judge ordered Mr. Burtch to pay the amount directed by the Board as restitution, but inadvertently neglected to include interest. This order did not overrule the order by the Board. Mr. Burtch paid $2,640.15 but has not paid interest as ordered by the Board. By refusing to pay restitution to McGuin as required by the Board, Mr. Burtch violated RPC 3.4(c) and 8.4( l ).