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People v. Bradley Charles Hibberd
In January 2020, a client paid Bradley Hibberd $3,000 as a retainer for work on post-decree matters in the client’s domestic relations case. Hibberd didn’t place the retainer into a trust account. The next month, Hibberd provided his client with an invoice that included two motions, amended certificates of mailings and filing fees. The invoice reflected a balance of $2,524.56 remaining from the client’s retainer. Hibberd performed some work on the client’s case until April 2020 but didn’t send any additional invoices to his client.
In September 2021, the client attempted to contact Hibberd in person and by phone, but Hibberd had vacated his office space and didn’t return her calls. The client was able to reach Hibberd by email and asked him to perform work on her case, including writing a letter to her ex-husband. Hibberd confirmed he would write the letter even though he quit practicing law in June 2021. Hibberd never provided the letter to his client.
In November 2021, the client contacted Hibberd by email and requested he refund the balance on her retainer as soon as possible. The client sent Hibberd another email again eight days later, saying she hadn’t heard from him and renewed her request for her money. One week later, the client contacted Hibberd a third time and asked about the refund. In February 2022, the client pro se moved to remove Hibberd as the attorney of record on her case. In May 2022, Hibberd finally refunded his client $2,379.48. Before he did so, the balance on his bank account dipped below the amount he should have been holding in trust for his client.
The Presiding Disciplinary Judge approved Hibberd’s stipulation to discipline and suspended him for three years, effective March 30. To be reinstated to the practice of law after his suspension, Hibberd must prove by clear and convincing evidence he has been rehabilitated, has complied with all disciplinary orders and rules and is fit to practice law.