In re a Member of the State Bar of Arizona, Larson

589 P.2d 442, 121 Ariz. 199, 1979 Ariz. LEXIS 211
CourtArizona Supreme Court
DecidedJanuary 9, 1979
DocketNo. SB-142
StatusPublished

This text of 589 P.2d 442 (In re a Member of the State Bar of Arizona, Larson) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Arizona Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
In re a Member of the State Bar of Arizona, Larson, 589 P.2d 442, 121 Ariz. 199, 1979 Ariz. LEXIS 211 (Ark. 1979).

Opinion

HAYS, Justice.

This action arises from two disciplinary complaints which were consolidated for hearing before a State Bar Administrative Committee. After extended hearings, the Committee recommended censure on both complaints. After further hearing, the Disciplinary Board affirmed the recommendations of censure. Respondent thereafter filed Objection to the Recommendation of Discipline. Briefs were filed and oral argument was had.

In order to keep the facts straight we shall deal with each complaint separately. The first complaint, which we shall call the Menzemer complaint, involved Arthur and Cornelia Menzemer, husband and wife. The Menzemers owned an undivided sixty percent (60%) interest in real property and improvements situated in Maricopa County. Initially they went to Respondent Larson’s partner to seek assistance in disposing of this property and he turned the matter over to respondent for handling. Thereafter, respondent was primarily responsible for the matter.

A partition action was filed against the Juttings who owned the remaining forty percent (40%) interest in the real property. An attorney named Manfred Wetzel filed an answer and counterclaim on behalf of the Juttings alleging, among other things, a trespass by Mr. Menzemer. Damages, actual and punitive, in the amount of $55,000.00 were sought.

During the course of the litigation, Mr. Menzemer died and respondent continued to handle the action for Mrs. Menzemer. Mrs. [200]*200Menzemer thereafter often relied on her son, Jack Smith, for advice and assistance.

The financial circumstances of the Menzemers were modest, with the subject real estate being the main asset. The value of their interest in the property was approximately $21,000.00. The fee arrangement they made with the respondent was on an hourly basis. Ultimately, Mrs. Menzemer received bills for legal services totaling over $13,000.00. However, it must be noted that the Menzemers and subsequently Mrs. Menzemer received periodic billings and had discussed the mounting cost of respondent’s legal services.

We have not outlined in detail the various legal services performed but a study of the record compels the conclusion that at the least, the respondent showed poor judgment in permitting the hours to accumulate to such magnitude in a matter of this nature. We do not discipline attorneys for errors of judgment, however, unless there is clear and convincing evidence that the Code of Professional Responsibility has been violated. In the Matter of Dwight, 117 Ariz. 407, 408, 573 P.2d 481, 482 (1977). The Committee and the Disciplinary Board found a violation of Rules of the Supreme Court, rule 29(a), DR 2 106(A) and (B), which reads as follows:

“(A) A lawyer shall not enter into an agreement for, charge, or collect an illegal or clearly excessive fee.
(B) A fee is clearly excessive when, after a review of the facts, a lawyer of ordinary prudence would be left with a definite and firm conviction that the fee is in excess of a reasonable fee. Factors to be considered as guides in determining the reasonableness of a fee include the following:
(1) The time and labor required, the novelty and difficulty of the questions involved, and the skill requisite to perform the legal service properly.
(2) The likelihood, if apparent to the client, that the acceptance of the particular employment will preclude other employment by the lawyer.
(3) The fee customarily charged in the locality for similar legal services.
(4) The amount involved and the results obtained.
(5) The time limitations imposed by the client or by the circumstances.
(6) The nature and length of the professional relationship with the client.
(7) The experience, reputation, and ability of the lawyer or lawyers performing the services.
(8) Whether the fee is fixed or contingent.”

In deciding the rather close question here we must mention some of the mitigating factors which might militate against the imposition of discipline. After Mr. Menzemer’s death, Mrs. Menzemer and more especially her son interrupted the course of the litigation and added to the number of hours expended. The son himself went to the judge to whom the case was assigned and got additional time to try to raise funds to purchase for himself the property which was being sold pursuant to court order. After delay, the son failed to come up with the money. In addition, respondent found himself dealing with an attorney who constantly erected roadblocks to a conclusion of the litigation by alternate action and inaction. The large counterclaim demand with its prayer for punitive damages complicated respondent’s task.

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Related

Matter of Dwight
573 P.2d 481 (Arizona Supreme Court, 1977)
In Re a Member of the State Bar of Arizona, Wetzel
574 P.2d 826 (Arizona Supreme Court, 1978)

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Bluebook (online)
589 P.2d 442, 121 Ariz. 199, 1979 Ariz. LEXIS 211, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-a-member-of-the-state-bar-of-arizona-larson-ariz-1979.