Opinion
25962
August 14, 2003.
ORDER OF SUSPENSION
Upon consideration of (1) the Disciplinary Board's July 14, 2003 report and recommendation for the suspension of Respondent Valerie A. Vargo (Respondent Vargo) from the practice of law for a period of three months pursuant to Rule 2.7(d) of the Rules of the Supreme Court of Hawai`i (RSCH), and (2) the record, we conclude that Respondent Vargo violated the following Hawai`i Rules of Professional Conduct (HRPC) while she represented a client, Michael Sequeira, in a civil litigation matter:
• HRPC Rule 1.1 (requiring a lawyer to provide competent representation to a client);
• HRPC Rule 1.3 (requiring a lawyer to act with reasonable diligence and promptness in representing a client);
• HRPC Rule 1.4(a) (requiring a lawyer to keep a client reasonably informed about the status of a matter);
• HRPC Rule 1.4(b) (requiring a lawyer to explain a matter to the extent reasonably necessary to permit the client to make informed decisions);
• HRPC Rule 1.15(f)(4) (requiring a lawyer to promptly deliver to the client property that the client is entitled to receive);
• HRPC Rule 1.15(g)(3) (requiring a lawyer to maintain a copy of any retainer or compensation agreement with a client for at least six years after completion of the employment to which it relates);
• HRPC Rule 1.16(a)(1) (requiring a lawyer to withdraw from the representation of a client if the representation will result in a violation of the rules of professional conduct);
• HRPC Rule 1.16(d) (requiring a lawyer, upon termination of representation, to take reasonably practicable steps to protect the client's interests, such as surrendering papers and property to which the client is entitled);
• HRPC Rule 3.2 (requiring a lawyer to make reasonable efforts to expedite litigation consistent with the legitimate interests of the client); and
• six violations of HRPC Rule 8.4(a) (providing that it is professional misconduct for a lawyer to violate the rules of professional conduct).
Therefore, we adopt the Disciplinary Board's recommendation. Accordingly,
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Respondent Vargo is suspended from the practice of law in this jurisdiction for a period of three (3) months, effective thirty (30) days after entry of this order, as provided by RSCH Rule 2.16(c).