Opinion ID: 2398017
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: The T. Gault Matter

Text: Respondent represented Mr. T. Gault in a domestic matter. After the hearing, the judge instructed Respondent to prepare an order. Respondent prepared and submitted the order, which the judge signed within eight days of the hearing. The same week, Respondent suffered from a serious medical episode. She then closed her office and moved out of state. The order was not actually filed until two and a half months after it was signed. Respondent did not take appropriate steps to notify Gault or the court about the closing of her office and her departure from the state, or to protect Gault's interests upon her unilateral termination of representation. Respondent did not turn Gault's file over to the attorney appointed to protect her clients' interests and to date she has been unable to locate the file.