Fee Misconduct Draws Suspension

The North Dakota Supreme Court has imposed a 30 day suspension of an attorney for fee-related misconduct:

The Hearing Panel found subsequently that [the attorney] had no written fee agreement with [the client]. However, she had orally agreed to an hourly rate of $125, but instead charged $175 per hour and $210 per hour for Court time. The Hearing Panel also found [the attorney] failed to reflect a payment by [the client]; overbilled for mileage; billed to review Veteran’s Affairs medical records of the children when the children had never been to Veterans Affairs; billed [the client] more than 24 hours on June 16, 2008; and billed for time when she provided no legal services while [the client] reviewed paperwork.

(Mike Frisch)