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SOUTHEAST TEXAS RECORD

Thursday, March 28, 2024

Griffin accused of keeping client's fees, file

GALVESTON - Attorney Anthony P. Griffin of Galveston is the target of a lawsuit filed by the Commission for Lawyer Discipline, recent court records show.

The CFLD filed the suit July 30 in Galveston County District Court on behalf of Kristina Guzman, who accuses Griffin of failing to return her client file.

According to the suit, Guzman hired Griffin on May 12, 2010, to serve as her lead counsel in an employment retaliation matter.

The respondent's fee was $5,000, of which $4,100 Guzman paid with an agreement to pay the remaining balance in installments, the suit says.

According to the original petition, both parties did not execute an employment contract, "thereafter, the respondent failed to take any action on Guzman's part except for preparing a rough draft of the petition in or around April 2011."

Guzman's numerous attempts to contact Griffin to ascertain the status of her case were unsuccessful as the defendant failed to communicate with her, the suit says.

The suit further explains that on July 11, 2011, Guzman left a message for Griffin informing him she might be moving out of state and was seeking a refund of unearned fees, but told her he would not refund the money.

The attorney reportedly promised the client he "would look at her file and call her back," but he failed to do so, the suit says.

The CFLD alleges Guzman wrote the defendant a letter in August terminating his services and requesting a detailed invoice and her file, however, Griffin did not follow through.

Galveston County 10th District Court Judge David Garner is presiding over the litigation.

Case No. 12-cv-1732

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