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Jeffrey B. Ranes (WSBA No. 7732, admitted 1977), of Montesano, received a reprimand based on a stipulation approved by the Disciplinary Board on November 17, 2000. The discipline is based upon his failure to diligently represent and adequately communicate with a client from 1992 through 1997.
In 1992, a hospital rehabilitation center resident fractured her shoulder. On February 26, 1993, the resident’s daughter contacted Mr. Ranes regarding a personal injury claim against the hospital and treating physicians. The daughter, who had been appointed attorney-in-fact for her mother, paid Mr. Ranes $750 for the representation. In December 1993, the daughter sent a letter requesting a refund because Mr. Ranes had not worked on the case. When Mr. Ranes told the daughter he was working on the case, she withdrew the request for a refund.
On January 28, 1994, Mr. Ranes demanded that the physician turn the claim over to his malpractice carrier. The insurance adjuster wrote Mr. Ranes two letters, but he did not respond. The mother died in 1994 and her son was named executor of her estate. On October 19, 1995, Mr. Ranes filed a summons and complaint against the hospital and the treating physician, but did not complete service on the defendants until the 91st day after the filing.
On April 5, 1996, the court entered an order dismissing the claim against the doctor for failure to serve the complaint within the statutory period. However, Mr. Ranes did not have his client’s authority to dismiss the claim. When the daughter called about the status of the lawsuit, Mr. Ranes failed to return her calls, and did not inform her or the son that the lawsuit had been dismissed.
In March 1997, Mr. Ranes told the son’s wife that he had retained a doctor in Bellevue as an expert witness. On November 10, 1998, the daughter filed a grievance against Mr. Ranes, not knowing that the lawsuit had been dismissed. Mr. Ranes left a telephone message for the daughter indicating he would return her $750, but had not done so as of the date of the stipulation.
Mr. Ranes’s conduct violated RPCs 1.3, requiring lawyers to diligently represent their clients; 1.2(a), requiring lawyers to abide by their clients’ directions regarding the objectives of their representation; 1.4(a), requiring lawyers to keep clients reasonably informed of the status of their matters; and 8.4(c), prohibiting conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation.
Jonathan Burke represented the Bar Association. Mr. Ranes represented himself.
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