First Drew Nixon is charged with illegally committing acts of offical oppression following an investigation by the attorney general’s office. Now the Texas Bar Journal, the official publication of the State Bar of Texas, carries this notice:
“On April 23, 2007, H. Tati Santiesteban, 73, of El Paso, accepted a public reprimand. An evidentiary panel of the District 17-A Grievance Committe found that on February 25, 2006, the complaintant hired Santiesteban for criminal representation and paid $1,300. No work had been performed. After two weeks, the complaintant requested that the fee be returned.
“Santiesteban violated rule 1.15(d). He was ordered to pay $1,200 in restitution and $300 in attorney’s fees.”
Section 1.15(d) requires an attorney to decline to represent a client or withdraw from representation if the attorney is discharged, with or without good cause.
OK, here’s my question. Why did Santiesteban get to keep $100 bucks for performing no work?
