Opinion
No. 02PDJ092.
April 22, 2003.
The Presiding Disciplinary Judge approved the parties' Conditional Admission of Misconduct and suspended Respondent, Carl S. West, attorney registration number 23435, from the practice of law for a period of one year and one day, with all but thirty days stayed during a one-year period of probation subject to conditions. Respondent represented a client who had been injured and whose husband had died in an automobile accident. The client entered into a contingency fee agreement which provided that the respondent would take all action as considered reasonably and necessary to file suit or settle the wrongful death and bodily injury claims. Respondent failed to provide competent legal representation to his client in violation of Colo. RPC 1.1 and neglected the client's wrongful death and personal injury claims in violation of Colo. RPC 1.3. Respondent charged an unreasonable fee in violation of Colo. RPC 1.5(a) and Colo. RPC 1.5(c), and respondent's contingent fee did not meet the requirements of Chapter 23.3. Respondent violated Colo. RPC 8.4(c) with regard to his communication pertaining to the amount he would collect for his services. Respondent was ordered to pay costs of the proceeding.