Opinion ID: 2299310
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 12

Heading: Representation of David Surratt

Text: In November 1995, at Mr. Greer's suggestion, David H. Surratt, Sr. met with Respondent at Respondent's home to discuss representation in an administrative appeal of a pay and position dispute against UDC, which had been pending since 1986. Surratt sought the assistance of someone that could finish it up for [him]. Tr. IV at 83. [7] Respondent agreed to help, and requested a retainer of $1,500, payable in $150.00 monthly installments. No retainer agreement was drawn up. Mr. Surratt turned over his file, and Respondent agreed to take his case through its completion through the court system. Id. at 143. Thereafter, and prior to Respondent's admission, Mr. Surratt made at least six payments to Respondent, noting on the checks that the payments were for legal fees or legal services. BX E-6 at 14-17. On April 5, 1996, Respondent wrote to UDC President Lemelle, c/o the Office of General Counsel at the University, regarding Mr. Surratt's claim, among others. In his letter, Respondent advised that he had run out of patience and called for a response by April 12, 1996, implying some further action would be taken if a response was not forthcoming. UDC did not respond. On June 5, 1996, Respondent wrote again to Dr. Lemelle, c/o the General Counsel of the University, to request a final decision on Mr. Surratt's administrative appeal no later than June 12, 1996. Again, there was no response. Around August 1996, Respondent advised Mr. Surratt that he should obtain swom statements from the UDC Personnel Committee members who had knowledge of his ten-year old grievance. Mr. Surratt collected these statements after tracking down the individuals, some of whom were located as far away as North Carolina, and gave them to Respondent. In October 1996, Mr. Surratt advanced the filing fee for a court action Respondent said he would file in the matter. From the date of his admission to the Bar in August 1996 to January 1997, Respondent took no action on Mr. Surratt's matter. When Respondent accepted full-time employment as an attorney with the EPA in October 1996, he did not advise Mr. Surratt of his new position or of Mr. Surratt's need to find new counsel. Indeed, Respondent ceased all communication to Mr. Surratt, despite Mr. Surratt's numerous unsuccessful efforts to contact Respondent at his home and at Mr. Luster's office. In January 1997, Mr. Surratt went to the D.C. Court of Appeals to inquire as to the status of his case, which he believed Respondent had filed on his behalf. The Clerk's Office informed him that no such action was filed. Unable to reach Respondent, Mr. Surratt consulted with James E. McCollum, Jr., Esquire, concerning this and other matters. McCollum agreed to assist in contacting Respondent to get more information. In this regard, on January 28, 1997, McCollum wrote (and faxed) a letter to Respondent at Luster's office address, advising that Surratt requested McCollum's advice on certain legal matters, and specifically requesting the name and case number on Surratt's court case as well as copies of documents related to the case. On February 5, 1997, without first contacting Mr. Surratt, Respondent filed a Petition to Compel Agency Action in the D.C. Court of Appeals. The petition was assigned Docket Number 97-AA-164. Respondent listed his professional address as 601 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Suite 900, Washington, D.C., Mr. Luster's office address. Although Mr. Luster had not yet cancelled his phone and mail service at that location, Mr. Starnes had long since ceased using that location for the practice of law. While Respondent served a copy of the Petition on the University on or about the same date, he did not furnish a copy to Mr. Surratt. When, on February 19, 1997, Mr. McCollum had still not heard from Respondent, McCollum tried to locate him via Mr. Luster with whom he believed Respondent still had a professional relationship. He sent a letter to Mr. Luster, requesting an update on Mr. Surratt's matter and for delivery of Mr. Surratt's documents. Mr. McCollum does not remember ever receiving a response from Mr. Luster. Mr. Surratt's continued efforts to reach Respondent were unsuccessful. On April 4, 1997, Mr. McCollum received a letter from Respondent, which advised that his effort to file a Petition for Review of Agency Action on Surratt's behalf was dismissed for lack of jurisdiction, but that he had recently filed a Petition to Compel Agency Action in the D.C. Court of Appeals. He advised Mr. McCollum that the action was pending. Again, the letter and envelope reflected Mr. Luster's former business address. Respondent's letter failed to advise Mr. McCollum that a docketing statement in the case was already overdue. The letter also neglected to inform either Mr. McCollum or Mr. Surratt that Respondent was now engaged in federal employment, which precluded him from further representation of Mr. Surratt. On April 22, 1997, Mr. McCollum replied that he wished to obtain copies of the remainder of the file and requested a meeting with Respondent. The letter was mailed to the address provided by Respondent, but was returned by the U.S. Postal Service. A few days later, the D.C. Court of Appeals sent an Order in Surratt's case, dated April 25, 1997, to Respondent at his (incorrect) address of record, directing the petitioner to file a docketing statement within 20 days of the date of the Order as well as a motion to file the docketing statement out of time. As Respondent had neglected to file a change of address, he did not receive a copy of the Order. No docketing statement was filed. In early May 1997, McCollum sent a reminder letter to Respondent about delivery of Surratt's file materials, and renewed his request for phone contact. This letter was also returned by the Postal Service. McCollum sent additional letters to Respondent on May 12, 14, 16, and 20, 1997. All were returned to the sender. On June 5, 1997, Mr. Surratt went to the D.C. Court of Appeals to review the court jacket in his case. He discovered the Court's April 25, 1997 Order, the time for compliance with which had expired. Surratt, on his own, filed a motion for an extension of time to file the docketing statement, advising the Court of his late discovery of the Order and his inability to reach his attorney. The Clerk of the Court returned Surratt's extension motion, advising that such a motion must be filed by counsel. Surratt made repeated, but unsuccessful, efforts to reach Respondent by phone. Surratt did learn that Respondent's office phone (Luster's former business number) was disconnected. On June 10, 1997, UDC filed a motion for summary dismissal of the petition, a copy of which was served on Respondent at his yet-uncorrected address of record. A copy of this motion was sent to Respondent. On November 3, 1997, Respondent filed a motion to withdraw his appearance in Surratt's case in the D.C. Court of Appeals, explaining that he was now a federal employee and that he had been advised, shortly after his tour commenced, that his continued representation of Mr. Surratt was a potential conflict of interest and a potential violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 203 and 205. Respondent added that he had not advised Mr. Surratt of this development because he thought their attorney-client relationship was terminated. Although Respondent indicated that he served Mr. Surratt with a copy of the motion, the certificate reflects an incorrect address, and Mr. Surratt never received it. On November 21, 1997, the D.C. Court of Appeals granted Respondent's motion to withdraw and dismissed Mr. Surratt's Petition for Review. A copy of the Order was sent to Mr. Surratt at the incorrect address listed in Respondent's motion to withdraw. Consequently, Mr. Surratt did not receive it in a timely manner.