ADMONITION
On March 6, 2005, the Chair of the Ethics and Discipline Committee of the Utah Supreme Court entered an Order of Discipline: Admonition against an attorney for violation of Rules 1.4(a) and (b) (Communication), 1.16(d) (Declining or Terminating Representation), and 8.4(a) (Misconduct) of the Rules of Professional Conduct.
In summary:
An attorney was retained to represent a husband and wife in a termination of parental rights and step-parent adoption matter. The attorney did not timely inform the clients about hearing dates or adequately communicate with the clients to explain the process to them. The attorney also failed to protect the clients’ interests by not clearly communicating withdrawal from the representation, nor advising the clients of the consequences of withdrawal, nor cooperating with successor counsel to protect the clients.