STATE OF
PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY BOARD
In re: PRB File No 2007.242
Decision No: 107
Facts
Respondent represented complainant who was the buyer in a real estate purchase which closed in July of 2000. Respondent had searched the title prior to closing and found a private mortgage on the property dating back to 1986. The sellers' attorney advised that there was no balance due and that seller's attorney would obtain a discharge but she had not done so by the time of the closing. The parties agreed to go forward with the closing and the sellers' attorney agreed to continue working to obtain the discharge.
Respondent held onto complainant's deed after it was recorded. He planned to check the land records at a later date to confirm the recording of the discharge and then to send the deed and other documents to his client.
Respondent checked the land records in November of 2000. He did not find the discharge and wrote to the seller's attorney to inquire about the status. The sellers' attorney did not respond to the letter, and Respondent followed up with one or two phone calls in 2001. In these conversations the sellers' attorney said that she would obtain the discharge as soon as she could.
It was not until 2002 that complainant contacted Respondent about the property. Complainant did not recall the discharge issue but wanted to obtain her documents. They discussed the necessity for the discharge, and Respondent stated that he would deal with it. Respondent again contacted the sellers' attorney who again stated that she would obtain the discharge.
In January of 2003 Respondent checked the land records and found no discharge. Again he contacted seller's attorney, and again she agreed to obtain the discharge.
At some point in 2004 complainant contacted Respondent for an update. Respondent told her that no discharge had been recorded, and that he would work to resolve the problem.
In October of 2004 Respondent check the land records, found no discharge, and in January of 2005 again wrote to seller's attorney. He followed up with a phone call and learned that the seller's attorney was having difficulty locating the lenders. Respondent made an effort to find them via the internet but was unsuccessful.
In January 2006 Respondent sent complainant her warranty deed, noting that he had not been able to obtain the discharge. In the letter he outlined her options and asked her to contact him to discuss how to proceed.
At
some point in 2006, complainant decided to buy property in
Complainant
looked at property in
In
August of 2007 complainant was able to obtain approval for a loan secured by
the
We do not know whether complainant's plans to relocate were delayed by the failure to obtain the discharge, and thus while there was the potential for injury, the only actual injury was her frustration at the long delay.
There
are a number of mitigating factors present.
Respondent has no prior disciplinary record; he has cooperated with
Disciplinary Counsel, he had no selfish or dishonest motive and has expressed
remorse. In aggravation, Respondent was
admitted to the
Conclusions of Law
Rule 1.3 of the Vermont Rules of Professional Conduct provides that a lawyer "shall act with reasonable diligence and promptness in representing a client." The time between the closing and obtaining and recording the discharge was just shy of seven years. While it was clearly the responsibility of the sellers' attorney to obtain the discharge, it was for the benefit of Respondent's client and ultimately his responsibility. When he finally filed the petition with the probate court it took less than two weeks to accomplish the matter. Such a long delay for such an uncomplicated task violates Rule 1.3.
Sanction
The
recommended sanction of admonition by Disciplinary Counsel is consistent with
Administrative Order 9 of the Vermont Supreme Court provides:
Only in cases of minor misconduct, when there is little or no injury to a client, the public, the legal system, or the profession, and where there is little likelihood of repetition by the lawyer, should an admonition be imposed.
The facts fit within this framework. There was little injury to the client and nothing to suggest that this conduct would be repeated. It is also consistent with prior decisions of this board in which admonition was imposed: In re PRB Decision No. 68 (2004), delay in resolving a lien issue in a real estate transaction, In re PRB Decision No. 60, (2003), lack of diligence in a collection matter, and In re PRB Decision No. 57 (2003), delay in resolving a permit issue after a real estate closing.
This
decision is also consistent with the ABA Standards for Imposing Lawyer
Discipline. Section 4.43 of the ABA
Standards suggest that "[r]eprimand is generally appropriate when a lawyer
is negligent and does not act with reasonable diligence and promptness in
representing a client, and causes injury or potential injury to a client." Section 4.44 suggests that "[a]dmonition
is generally appropriate when a lawyer is negligent and does not act with
reasonable diligence in representing a client, and causes little or no actual
or potential injury." Under both recommendations we are looking at
negligent conduct, the difference being the nature and extent of the actual or
potential injury. There was little
actual injury here, only complainant's frustration. There was, however, the
potential for injury had the complainant's inability to use the
Even
if we were to find that the presumptive sanction in this matter was reprimand,
the mitigating factors would serve to reduce it to admonition. Respondent has no disciplinary record,
For the foregoing reasons we accept the parties recommended discipline.
Respondent shall be admonished by Disciplinary Counsel for violation of Rule 1.3 of the Vermont Rules of Professional Conduct.
Dated: February 26, 2008 Hearing Panel No. 8
FILED 2/26/08
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Eileen Blackwood, Esq., Chair
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Peter Bluhm, Esq.
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Tim Volk