Complaint Review: Lydia L. King

Lydia L. King, PLLC intentionally subverted this client’s case. Lydia L. King, of Lancaster, Warsaw, and Montross, Virginia, allowed herslef to be pressured by the defendant's lawyer, who lavishly wined and dined her, into immediately dropping my case the next day with full knowledge that doing so left me entirely without recourse. Her actions were in violation of Virginia State Bar (VSB) Rule Rules of Professional Conduct Rules 1.16(b)(d) "TERMINATING OR DECLINING REPRESENTATION; (b) a lawyer may withdraw from representing a client if withdrawal can be accomplished without material adverse affect on the interests of the client, or if: (d) Upon termination of representation, a lawyer shall take steps to the extent reasonable practicable to protect a client’s interests, such as giving reasonable notice to the client, allowing time for employment of other counsel," and Rule 1.4(a)(c) "COMMUNICATION; (c) A lawyer shall inform the client of facts pertinent to the matter and of communications from another party that may significantly affect settlement or resolution of the matter."

Further, she violated attorney-client privilege by showing privileged, evidentiary documents I gave her to opposing counsel, which fatally damaged my case in violation of VSB Rule 1.6(a) "CONFIDENTIALITY OF INFORMATION; (a) A lawyer shall not reveal information protected by the attorney-client privilege under applicable law or other information gained in the professional relationship that the client has requested be held inviolate or the disclosure of which would...be likely to be detrimental to the client," VSB Rule 1.8(b) "CONFLICT OF INTEREST: PROHIBITED TRANSACTIONS; (b) A lawyer shall not use information relating to representation of a client for the advantage of the lawyer or of a third person or to the disadvantage of the client," and VSB Rule 1.3(b)(c) "DILIGENCE; (c) A lawyer shell not intentionally prejudice or damage a client during the course of the professional relationship."

Further, she refused to return the original documents I had provided--and needed--for four months, and then only returned photocopies in violation of VSB Rule 1.16(e) "DECLINING OR TERMINATING REPRESENTATION (e) All original, client-furnished documents and any originals of ... official documents are the property of the client and, therefore, upon termination of the representation, those items shall be returned within a reasonable time to the client or the client’s new counsel upon request...The lawyer has not met his or her obligation under this paragraph by the mere provision of copies of documents on an item-by-item basis during the course of the representation."

Finally, despite all of her above unlawful actions, she refused to return my money on requesting return of my $635.00 investment ($600. retainer + $35. VSB fee) because she failed to perform any of my three objectives. She ignored my request in violation of VSB Rule 1.16(d) "DECLINING OR TERMINATING REPRESENTATION; Upon termination of representation, a lawyer shall take steps to the extent reasonable practicable to protect a client’s interests, such as ... refunding any advance payment of fee that has not been earned." and VSB Rule 1.5 (a)(4)"FEES; (a) A lawyer’s fee shall be reasonable. The factors to be considered in determining the reasonableness of a fee include the following: (4) the amount involved and the results obtained."

All of the above violate VSB Rule 8.4(a)(b)(c) "MISCONDUCT. It is professional misconduct for a lawyer to: (a) violate or attempt to violate the Rules of Professional Conduct, knowingly assist or induce another to do so, or do so through the acts of another; (b) commit a ... deliberately wrongful act that reflects adversely on the lawyer’s honest, trustworthiness, or fitness to practice law; and (c) engage in conduct involving dishonesty ... deceit, or misrepresentation which reflects adversely on the lawyer’s fitness to practice law.

NEVER, EVER under any circumstances have ANYTHING to do with this thoroughly corrupt lawyer!