This committee shall investigate, upon request from a client or former client, all non-financial complaints involving disputes with attorneys practicing in San Diego County whether or not such attorneys are members of the Association. It is the purpose of this Committee to resolve all such complaints on an informal, confidential basis. The Committee may determine that a complaint is within the disciplinary jurisdiction of the State Bar of California, and refer the complaint to the State Bar for further handling. A subcommittee of this group, this committee shall, if it has reason to believe that because of excessive use of alcohol or drugs, physical or mental illness, or other infirmity, a lawyer in San Diego County has become incapable of devoting the time and attention to, and providing the quality of service for, his or her law practice which is necessary to protect the interest of a client, encourage him or her to seek qualified sources of help; and if the committee comes into possession of client papers or property of a lawyer in San Diego County who (a) because of excessive use of alcohol or drugs, physical or mental illness, or other infirmity or other cause, has become incapable of devoting the time and attention to, and providing the quality of service for, his or her law practice which is necessary to protect the interest of a client, or (b) is unable to protect the interest of a client because he or she dies, resigns, becomes an inactive member of the State Bar, is disbarred, or is suspended from the active practice of law, the committee shall use reasonable efforts to (x) arrange for the surrender or delivery of such papers and property to the lawyer's clients, (y) notify the clients what has occurred, and (z) inform the clients that it may be to their best interest to obtain other legal counsel; all inasmuch as the ability to protect the client's interest is the minimum statement of the standards of professional conduct of the Association referred to in Article I of these Bylaws.
Committee members may click here to view the eCommunity.
Fred M. Dudek, Chair
Dudek Law Firm APC
9820 Willow Creek Road, Suite 470
San Diego, CA 92131
Phone: (858) 530-4800
Fax: (858) 530-4801
Email: fdudek@dudeklawfirm.com
|
