Opinion ID: 2379994
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Janice Bean

Text: In March 1994, Janice Bean (Bean) retained respondent to represent her in a discrimination action against her employer. Respondent and Bean executed a retainer agreement, and in June 1994, respondent filed a civil complaint against the employer in the Superior Court, alleging seven causes of action, including claims under 42 U.S.C. §§ 2000e et seq. (Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964), 42 U.S.C. § 1981, and the District of Columbia Human Rights Act. [1] On August 17, 1994, the employer caused Bean's case to be removed from Superior Court to the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. Thereafter, the employer filed an answer to Bean's complaint as well as a counterclaim. The employer also filed a motion to dismiss a number of Bean's claims, including her Title VII cause of action; respondent failed to oppose the motion. In an order dated September 2, 1994, the District Court granted the employer's unopposed motion to dismiss in part, dismissing all of Bean's claims without prejudice except her claim under the D.C. Human Rights Act. Respondent did not inform Bean of the ruling. The District Court's order also established time-lines for the parties to file future motions as well as a schedule for pre-trial discovery. On September 2, 1994, the employer moved for summary judgment on its counterclaim. Respondent did not file an opposition, but instead filed an answer to the counterclaim. The employer informed the District Court that the parties had scheduled a settlement conference for September 12, and that the employer's maximum settlement offer for Bean's suit was $3,424.10. Respondent did not advise Bean of the employer's offer of settlement. At the September 12 settlement conference, respondent agreed to make Bean available for deposition by the employer. The parties also agreed to make initial discovery disclosures by September 22, 1994. The employer formally noticed Bean's deposition for September 27, 1994, and made its initial discovery disclosures as agreed. Respondent did not advise Bean of her scheduled deposition, and failed to make his discovery disclosures by the September 22nd deadline. Thereafter, respondent failed to respond appropriately to a number of discovery obligations. On October 3, 1994, the employer filed a motion to dismiss for discovery violations; respondent did not oppose to the motion. The court held a status conference via telephone and although respondent had notice of the status conference, he did not participate. Following the status conference, the court issued an order modifying its previous scheduling order, extending the discovery deadline to December 31, 1994, and setting a further status conference for January 3, 1995. Bean attempted to contact respondent throughout September 1994, but her calls were not returned. She contacted respondent on October 3, 1994, informing him that she had located a potential witness and requested a meeting with respondent. She received no response until October 31, 1994, when respondent informed her that he had been injured and would speak with her shortly. Bean renewed her request for a meeting. On November 23, 1994, the employer notified the District Court and respondent that Bean had failed to timely oppose the employer's motions for summary judgment on Bean's claim and the employer's counterclaim. During the last months of 1994, Bean was unsuccessful in getting respondent to communicate with her. She also attempted  without success  to recover pertinent documents from him. On December 26, 1994, respondent faxed a letter to Bean explaining that he had not responded sooner because he had been in and out of the hospital the last several months. He informed Bean, for the first time, that her case had been removed to District Court, that the employer had filed a counterclaim against her, and recommended that she accept a settlement offer. On December 29, 1994, Bean faxed a letter to respondent informing him that she needed to speak with him immediately and that she did not wish to accept the employer's settlement offer. She instructed respondent to take no further action on her case until she spoke with him; respondent did not contact Bean. On December 30, 1994, the employer filed a motion to dismiss Bean's complaint for failure to comply with court ordered discovery and moved for summary judgment on its counterclaim and on Bean's claim. When respondent failed to appear at a status hearing, the District Court, on January 4, granted summary judgment in favor of the employer on its counterclaim and dismissed Bean's remaining claims with prejudice. Bean filed her complaint with Bar Counsel on March 6, 1995. Hearing Committee No. 1 found that respondent (1) failed to represent Bean zealously and diligently and failed to act with reasonable promptness when he did not provide discovery disclosures to opposing counsel, failed to file a timely answer to the employer's counter-claim against Bean, failed to respond to the employer's motion to dismiss and motion for summary judgment, and failed to appear at two court-ordered status conferences, in violation of Rules 1.3(a), (c); (2) intentionally failed to seek the lawful objectives of Bean through reasonably available means when he failed to timely notify Bean that her case had been removed to federal court, and that the employer had filed a counterclaim. The Committee also found that respondent failed to inform his client of a scheduled deposition and an offer of settlement, in violation of Rule 1.3(b)(1); (3) failed to keep Bean reasonably informed about the status of her case, failed to promptly comply with her reasonable requests for documents, and failed to explain matters to Bean to the extent reasonably necessary to permit her make informed decisions regarding the representation, in violation of Rules 1.4(a), (b); (4) failed to communicate the employer's offer of settlement to Bean, in violation of Rule 1.4(c); (5) failed to take timely steps to return certain documents to Bean, in violation of Rule 1.16(d); and (6) failed to comply with court-ordered discovery and other scheduled court dates and deadlines, in violation of Rule 8.4(d).