PEOPLE v. MUHAMMAD, 04PDJ053 (Colo.O.P.D.J. 6-28-2004)

No. 04PDJ053.Office of the Presiding Disciplinary Judge of the Supreme Court of Colorado.
June 28, 2004.

Attorney Regulation.
The Presiding Disciplinary Judge approved the parties’ Conditional Admission of Misconduct and suspended Respondent Wazir-Ali Muhammad, attorney registration number19900, from the practice of law for a period of 30 days, effective July 29, 2004, all stayed upon successful completion of a one-year period of probation. Respondent agreed to defend a client in a subrogation action connected with an automobile accident that was completely the client’s fault. The client’s father was named in the original case, although he was in no way at fault or responsible. At the time she hired Respondent, the client requested that he also represent her father, though she did not want her father to know she had hired Respondent to represent her and her father. Respondent entered an appearance and filed an answer for both parties but thereafter neglected the matter and a judgment of default was entered against the client and her father. By neglecting a legal matter entrusted to him, Respondent violated Colo. RPC 1.3. By failing to explain a matter to the extent necessary to allow a client to make informed decisions concerning the representation, Respondent violated RPC 1.4 (b). By representing his client’s father without the father’s knowledge or consent when his ability to do so was materially limited by his representation of the daughter, Respondent violated RPC 1.7 (d). Respondent was ordered to pay costs and comply with other conditions.