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Robert W. Huffhines Jr. (WSBA No. 11279, admitted 1980), of Kelso, received a reprimand on May 10, 2002, based on a stipulation approved by the Disciplinary Board in March 2002. This discipline is based upon his failure to act with reasonable diligence, to keep his client reasonably informed, and to provide the explanations necessary to permit the client to make informed decisions from 1996 to 2001.
In May 1997, Mr. S was sentenced to a 164-month term for second-degree murder. In June 1999, Mr. S hired Mr. Huffhines to file a petition for review, which was denied on November 2, 1999. Mr. Huffhines did not promptly inform Mr. S of the order denying review.
Mr. Huffhines then agreed to file a petition for writ of habeas corpus on Mr. S’s behalf. On February 3, 2000, Mr. S’s mother (Ms. S) signed a fee agreement with Mr. Huffhines and paid $2,000. On March 23, she wrote to Mr. Huffhines inquiring about his progress in the matter, and wrote again on November 29, 2000, but Mr. Huffhines did not respond. On December 12, 2000, Mr. S wrote to Mr. Huffhines expressing his frustration about the lack of communication and diligence; Mr. Huffhines did not respond. On January 15, 2001, Mr. S wrote to Mr. Huffhines requesting his file, and Mr. Huffhines did not respond.
Mr. Huffhines prepared a draft of the petition for a writ, but subsequently decided he did not have sufficient legal basis for the petition and did not finalize or file it. The filing deadline was November 2, 2000, and Mr. Huffhines took no further action before the expiration date, nor did he communicate his concerns regarding the legal basis of the petition to Mr. or Ms. S prior to the filing deadline.
In January 2001, Mr. S and his mother filed a grievance with the Bar Association. On February 13, Mr. Huffhines wrote a letter to Ms. S expressing his regret and refunding $2,005. On April 4, Mr. Huffhines sent Mr. S his file.
Mr. Huffhines’s conduct violated RPCs 1.3, requiring lawyers to act with reasonable diligence in representing clients; and 1.4(a) and (b), requiring lawyers to keep their clients reasonably informed about the status of their matters and to explain the matters to the extent reasonably necessary for clients to make informed decisions.
Douglas J. Ende represented the Bar Association. Robert W. Huffhines Jr. represented himself.
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