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04/12/02 "See News Release 030 for any concurrences and/or dissents."

SUPREME COURT OF LOUISIANA NO. 02-B-0053 IN RE: WOODROW W. WYATT

ATTORNEY DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS

PER CURIAM
This attorney disciplinary matter stems from four counts of formal charges filed by the Office of Disciplinary Counsel ("ODC") against respondent, Woodrow W. Wyatt, an attorney licensed to practice law in Louisiana, but currently ineligible to practice.1

UNDERLYING FACTS The Coleman Matter Caretha Coleman filed a complaint against respondent with the ODC. In December 1999, the ODC forwarded a copy of the complaint to respondent by certified mail at his primary registration address. After three notifications, the correspondence was returned marked "undeliverable as addressed." The ODC thereafter served respondent with an investigatory subpoena compelling him to appear on February 16, 2000 and answer the complaint under oath. Respondent failed to appear.

The Springfield Matter In early 1998, Sylvia Springfield retained respondent to handle a workers' compensation claim. Respondent initially performed some work in the matter, but

Respondent has been ineligible to practice law since September 1, 2000 for failing to pay his bar dues and the disciplinary assessment.

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thereafter Ms. Springfield was unable to communicate with him. She terminated respondent's representation and demanded the return of her file, but respondent failed to comply with this request. Ms. Springfield then retained new counsel in the workers' compensation matter, who requested respondent transfer the file to him. Respondent also failed to comply with this request. A copy of Ms. Springfield's July 1999 complaint to the ODC was forwarded to respondent by certified mail at his primary registration address. After three notifications, the correspondence was returned marked "unclaimed." Thereafter, respondent could not be located for service of an investigatory subpoena. On October 10, 2000, after formal charges were filed against respondent, Ms. Springfield advised the ODC that respondent had returned her file in the workers' compensation matter.

The Bergeron Matter In January 1993, Ruby Bergeron retained respondent to handle a personal injury claim arising out of an automobile accident. Respondent timely filed a petition for damages, along with interrogatories and a request for production of documents, in October 1993. Thereafter, respondent did little or no work in the matter, with the exception of filing a motion to compel the defendant's response to discovery, and he failed to communicate with his client. Ms. Bergeron terminated respondent's representation by letter dated August 7, 1998. Nevertheless, respondent continued to advocate his rights as "an interested party." He opposed a motion by defendant to dismiss the suit as abandoned and appeared at an August 18, 1998 hearing on the motion on behalf of Ms. Bergeron. Respondent also attempted to interfere with the handling of the matter by Ms. Bergeron's new attorney.

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A copy of Ms. Bergeron's complaint to the ODC was forwarded to respondent by certified mail at his primary registration address in August 1999. Respondent failed to timely answer the complaint, and he could not be located for service of an investigatory subpoena. Respondent finally answered the complaint in writing in February 2000.

The Bass Matter Doris Bass filed a complaint against respondent with the ODC. In August 1999, the ODC forwarded a copy of the complaint to respondent by certified mail at his primary registration address. Respondent failed to timely answer the complaint, and he could not be located for service of an investigatory subpoena. Respondent finally answered the complaint in writing in February 2000.

DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS Formal Charges After investigation, the ODC filed four counts of formal charges against respondent, alleging that his conduct violated the following provisions of the Rules of Professional Conduct: Rules 1.3 (failure to act with diligence in representing a client), 1.4 (failure to communicate with a client), 1.7(b) (conflict of interest), 1.16 (termination of the representation), 3.4(c) (knowing disobedience of an obligation under the rules of a tribunal), 8.1(c) (failure to cooperate with the ODC in its investigation), 8.4(a) (violation of the Rules of Professional Conduct), 8.4(d) (engaging in conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice), and 8.4(g) (failure to cooperate with the ODC in its investigation). Respondent failed to answer or otherwise reply to the formal charges. Accordingly, no formal hearing was held, and the matter was submitted to the hearing
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committee solely on documentary evidence. See Supreme Court Rule XIX,

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Louisiana Law