People v. Abrahamson Pirzadeh.
No. 23PDJ045. 9/27/2023. Stipulation to Discipline.
December 4, 2023
The Presiding Disciplinary Judge approved the parties’ amended stipulation to discipline and suspended Jean A. Abrahamson Pirzadeh (attorney registration number 50522) for one year and one day. The suspension took effect on September 27, 2023. To be reinstated to the practice of law in Colorado after her suspension, Abrahamson Pirzadeh must prove by clear and convincing evidence that she has been rehabilitated, has complied with all disciplinary orders and rules, and is fit to practice law.
In 2019, Abrahamson Pirzadeh represented a client who was injured in a vehicular accident. From November 2019 to August 2020, the client received medical treatment from a treatment provider, who asserted a lien on the recovery in the client’s case. In September 2019 and March 2020, Abrahamson Pirzadeh settled two claims on her client’s behalf but did not notify the treatment provider about either settlement. In August 2020, Abrahamson Pirzadeh sent a written request that the treatment provider reduce the lien amount by 50%. The treatment provider responded the next month, stating they would accept a 35% reduction. But Abrahamson Pirzadeh’s firm did not respond to the offer or to the treatment provider’s subsequent communications. In November 2021, a suspended lawyer working at Abrahamson Pirzadeh’s firm emailed the treatment provider to negotiate a settlement. The next month, the lawyer verbally requested that the treatment provider reduce the lien amount by 40%. In January 2022, the treatment provider sent Abrahamson Pirzadeh’s firm a demand for the full lien amount. Though Abrahamson Pirzadeh appears to have maintained the contested funds in her firm’s trust account, she has not disbursed any money to the treatment provider.
Through this conduct, Abrahamson Pirzadeh violated Colo. RPC 1.3 (a lawyer must act with reasonable diligence and promptness when representing a client); Colo. RPC 1.15A(b) (upon receiving funds or other property of a client or third person, a lawyer must promptly deliver to the client or third person any funds or property that person is entitled to receive); and Colo. RPC 5.3(b) (a lawyer with direct supervisory authority over a nonlawyer employee must make reasonable efforts to ensure that the employee’s conduct is compatible with the lawyer’s professional obligations).