Opinion ID: 1283348
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: Shari Kearney

Text: Wintroub represented Shari Kearney in a lawsuit against her employer. Kearney sent Wintroub a check for $1,500 on February 6, 2006. The referee found that this was after Wintroub was aware of his suspension from the practice of law in Nebraska, which was effective January 19, 2006. After Wintroub was suspended, his father, who is also an attorney, continued to represent Kearney, but ultimately, Wintroub's father advised her to find other counsel to continue her lawsuit. Kearney sought, but did not receive, a refund of a portion of the $1,500 she paid to Wintroub. The formal charges alleged that Wintroub violated his oath of office as an attorney, §§ 3-501.3 (diligence), 3-501.4 (communications), and 3-501.16 (declining or terminating representation), and Neb. Ct. R. of Prof. Cond. § 3-508.4 (misconduct). The charges also alleged that Wintroub violated Neb. Ct. R. of Prof. Cond. §§ 3-505.5 by engaging in the unauthorized practice of law in another jurisdiction and 3-507.3 by soliciting a prospective client. The referee was particularly troubled that Wintroub accepted fees from Kearney after he clearly was aware he had been suspended from the practice of law. He found that no refund was paid to Kearney, even though Wintroub failed to complete her case, and noted that Wintroub's father testified that he thought Kearney should be given a refund. The referee found that it was clear that Wintroub received fees from Kearney for work he did not perform and concluded that Wintroub's conduct violated §§ 3-501.3 (diligence), 3-501.4 (communications), and 3-501.16 (declining or terminating representation).