Office Policy No Defense To Failure To Provide Client File

The Arkansas Supreme Court Committee on Professional Conduct reprimanded an attorney who, after representation of a client and his business had ceased, rebuffed repeated attempts by new counsel to obtain the client’s file. He had informed the client’s new counsel that “it was his firm’s policy to not provide clients’ with their files.” He also had been contacted by the Office of Professional Conduct prior to the filing of formal charges and advised the Executive Director that it was his “longstanding practice and policy that files in his law office were his property.” After a hearing, a violation of Rule 1.16(d) was found. (Mike Frisch)