from
https://www.osbar.org/publications/bulletin/09jul/baractions.html
JOHN P. ECKREM
OSB #962708
Medford
60-day suspension
On April 22, 2009, the disciplinary board approved a stipulation for
discipline suspending Medford lawyer John P. Eckrem for 60 days for
violating RPC 1.3 (neglect of a legal matter), RPC 1.4(a) (failure to adequately communicate with a client), RPC 1.5(a) (collecting a clearly excessive fee), RPC 1.15-1(c) (failure to deposit client funds into
trust), RPC 1.15-1(d) (failure to promptly deliver client property and
render a full accounting) and RPC 1.16(d) (failure to properly
withdraw). The suspension is effective June 21, 2009.
In July 2006, Eckrem undertook to represent a couple in an adoption
matter. Pursuant to an oral agreement, the clients paid Eckrem a flat
fee to complete the adoption. Eckrem failed to deposit some of the funds
he received from his clients into his lawyer trust account. Between
November 2006 and July 2007, Eckrem failed to pursue the adoption
matter. In July 2007, the clients terminated Eckrem’s representation.
Eckrem failed to notify the court that he had been terminated and failed
to promptly refund unearned fees and unincurred costs.
In a second matter, Eckrem undertook to represent a client in a claim
against an investment company. Eckrem failed to deposit the client’s
retainer and filing fees into his lawyer trust account. Between
September 2006 and the end of March 2007, Eckrem failed to communicate
with his client and to pursue the matter. At the end of March 2007,
Eckrem returned some file materials to his client and promised to refund
the filing fees. Thereafter, Eckrem failed to promptly provide an
accounting, return all file materials and refund the filing fees.
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