Attorney David Chomick, who was disciplined for accepting a retainer and then not doing the work, left behind ample files and upward of 30 clients when he was suspended for six months for not taking continuing legal education courses, as ordered.

It was left to West Hartford attorney Linda Hadley to come in and go behind the curtain of the Chomick case: to work with his clients to answer their questions; to put her name on his Interest on Lawyers Trust Account; and to make sure everything ran smoothly.

The Office of Chief Disciplinary Counsel asked Hadley, a partner with Gfeller Laurie, to take over all of Chomick's files, some of which were voluminous. All the cases involved anxious clients, who had to be notified that their lawyer would no longer be representing them in the short term.

That role fell to Hadley, who quickly went to work.

In the case of disciplined attorney Chomick, Chief Disciplinary Counsel attorney LeAnne Larson asked Hadley to takeover and step into the nonpaying role of trustee.

"I thought it was something that was a duty to provide to the bar," Hadley said. "I've done pro bono work before, and when someone from the Office of Chief Disciplinary Counsel asks you to do this, you feel like you have some obligation to give back."

It's a priceless contribution.

Chief Disciplinary Counsel Brian Staines said trustees such as Hadley "play a very important role in protecting clients of the deactivated attorney," which is why his office works to curb attorney missteps.

"The Office of Chief Disciplinary Counsel participates in giving seminars on legal ethics throughout the year," Staines said. "And we request that attorneys volunteer for future appointments" as trustees.

The first thing Hadley did when she got the assignment was go to a local Webster Bank where Chomick had an IOLTA account. She switched the account from Chomick's name to hers, as trustee.

Then came the hard part: working with Chomick's clients, who were, for the most part, defendants in criminal proceedings.

Hadley, who will stay on as trustee until January 2020 when Chomick's suspension comes to an end, said she sent letters out to about 25 to 30 clients, and received calls from about one-third of them, who proceeded to pepper her with questions on their case.

"I had to explain to them that I was not representing them. I was just the trustee," Hadley said. "I fielded calls from some clients who just did not understand the process. Some wanted to know how long the suspension was, while others asked to see the court order, and others asked me whether they should seek new counsel."

It was also up to Hadley to contact the prosecutors in New Britain, where most of Chomick's case were, telling them that Chomick's clients would not have representation. In some cases, the matters were continued, while clients got new representation in others.

Hadley's practice includes representing small and large companies, financial institutions, and individual commercial and consumer litigation. She estimates she spent about 15 hours on the Chomick case.

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