Door Dash And Discipline

A 60-day suspension was accepted by the Arizona Presiding Disciplinary Judge

The Agreement sets forth the factual background for the ethical violations, which is not repeated herein. Generally speaking, while representing a client in a family court matter, Ms. Dean sent numerous “demeaning and unprofessional” text messages to the client and disclosed information protected by ER 1.6 to the opposing party.

Particulars

On August 15, 2023, Complainant appeared at Respondent’s office for a consultation regarding an order of protection her husband had obtained against her that granted him exclusive possession and use of their residence. Complainant retained Respondent to contest the order of protection.

At the time, Respondent was engaged to be married to her paralegal (“paralegal” and/or “fiancé”) who had been introduced to Complainant as Respondent’s husband/significant other.

On August 22, 2023, Complainant further retained Respondent to seek a divorce from her husband. Respondent’s paralegal drafted the divorce papers.

Trouble in paradise

Around the same time, Respondent terminated her paralegal’s employment and broke off the engagement. The reasons are set forth in Exhibit B (submitted under seal).

According to Complainant, on August 25, 2023, the day after he was fired, Respondent’s former paralegal contacted Complainant. When he did so, he had already been terminated by Respondent and was not acting in any capacity related to her law firm. According to Complainant, the paralegal told her he had been fired and was mourning having broken up with Respondent.

On August 28, 2023, Respondent had Complainant’s husband served with divorce papers.

On the evening of August 30, 2023, Complainant invited the paralegal to her home, and he accepted the invitation.

Upon arriving at Complainant’s home, at or about 9:00 o’clock p.m., the paralegal used Respondent’s Doordash account to place a food delivery order. Respondent noticed the order on her phone and was able to track it to Complainant’s home.

 Between the hours of 9:17 p.m. and 10:20 p.m. on August 30, 2023, very soon after being made aware that Complainant and her former fiancé were together at Complainant’s residence, Respondent sent approximately 70 text messages to Complainant that were demeaning and unprofessional. At the time, Respondent was suffering from extreme medical issues and was under extreme emotional distress. (See Exhibit B).

Shortly thereafter

A few hours later, at 1:14 a.m. Respondent filed a motion to withdraw from Complainant’s divorce case citing irreconcilable differences.

The texts are under seal. (Mike Frisch)