Opinion ID: 852424
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: facts

Text: The Commission filed a verified complaint on March 17, 2008, which it amended on March 18, 2008. The amended complaint contains fifteen counts of misconduct involving specific clients from 2003 (the year she was admitted to the bar) through 2007. The sixteenth count alleges general incompetence. Respondent failed to answer the complaint, appear, or otherwise respond to the complaint. Thus, the allegations set forth in the complaint are taken as true. See Admis. Disc. R. 14(c). Because neither party filed a petition for review of the hearing officer's finding, we accept and adopt those findings but reserve final judgment as to misconduct and sanction. Matter of Levy, 726 N.E.2d 1257, 1258 (Ind.2000). Accordingly, the Court finds that Respondent committed the acts charged in the complaint. Respondent's misconduct includes failing to take action in cases; failing to keep clients informed about the status of their cases; failing to respond to clients' requests for information; accepting a settlement without the client's approval; giving clients erroneous legal advice; failing to appear at hearings; missing deadlines; failing to properly handle, use, account for, and/or refund money paid to her by clients; charging unreasonable fees; failing to reduce contingent fee agreements to writing; misrepresenting the extent of her professional experience to clients; and making false statements to the Commission during its investigations. The details of some of the counts of misconduct are summarized below. Respondent agreed to represent Client 1 on federal drug possession charges. She falsely told Client 1 she had substantial experience with such cases, charged a $5,000 initial fee, refused to refund a $2,000 partial payment after being discharged, and attempted to charge an additional $3,100 despite having done no substantial work on the case. Client 2 paid Respondent $750 to represent her in an unemployment compensation matter and to enforce a child support order against her former husband. Respondent took no action in the unemployment compensation matter. Without Client 2's consent, Respondent settled her child support claim for $200, even though Client 2 believed the arrearage was over $1000. Client 2's former husband paid nothing. When Client 2 terminated Respondent and requested a refund of the $750 fee, Respondent did not refund the fee. Client 3 retained Respondent to represent her in child custody and dissolution matters. During the representation, Respondent erroneously advised Client 3 she must pay the costs to have her husband transported from jail to court. Respondent terminated the representation with a letter implying Client 3 had an outstanding balance when she in fact had a credit. Respondent failed to withdraw from the child custody and dissolution matters. Client 4 hired Respondent on a contingent basis to represent her on two claims of employment discrimination against her employer. The agreement was not in writing. Client 4 received two right to sue letters from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which gave notice of deadlines for bringing suit on the claims. Respondent filed suit in federal court after the deadlines for both claims had passed. Respondent failed to respond to the defendant's discovery requests until ordered by the court. Respondent failed to respond to the defendant's summary judgment motion. Summary judgment was entered against Client 4, who was assessed costs of $2,000. Respondent agreed to represent Client 5 in a murder case in Illinois for an engagement fee of $10,000, paid by Client 5's parents. Respondent had not met the client, had never appeared in an Illinois court, and had no experience representing a murder defendant. Without consulting with Client 5, she advised his parents he should surrender to the authorities. She did not appear at Client 5's initial hearing or do anything for him except to advise his parents that he should request a public defender. Respondent refused Client 5's parents' request for a refund. She falsely told the Commission that she had diligently sought pro hac vice admission in Illinois. Respondent is currently suspended for failure to cooperate with the Commission in its investigation of charges against her. See Matter of Powell, 49S00-0711-DI-550 (suspended March 18, 2008); Matter of Powell, 49S00-0801-DI-32 (suspended June 18, 2008).