People v. Albert R. Snyder. 18PDJ042. April 30, 2019. The Presiding Disciplinary Judge approved the parties’ conditional admission of misconduct and suspended Albert R. Snyder (attorney registration number 41912) for three years. The suspension took effect April 30, 2019. To be reinstated, Snyder will bear the burden of proving by clear and convincing evidence that he has been rehabilitated, has complied with disciplinary orders and rules, and is fit to practice law. The parties agree that significant mitigating factors warrant a departure from the presumptive sanction of disbarment.
In January 2017, Snyder agreed to represent a couple in their immigration matter and accepted a $1,000.00 retainer. Snyder initially helped his clients fill out some forms, but those forms contained several errors. After June 2017, Snyder ceased communicating with his clients despite their numerous attempts to contact him. Snyder never filed any documents for his clients nor has he refunded their retainer. Snyder also failed to respond to the Office of Attorney Regulation Counsel’s communications regarding this matter.
Through his conduct, Snyder violated Colo. RPC 1.3 (a lawyer shall act with reasonable diligence and promptness when representing a client); Colo. RPC 1.4(a)(4) (a lawyer shall promptly comply with reasonable requests for information); Colo. RPC 1.16(d) (a lawyer shall protect a client’s interests upon termination of the representation, including by returning any papers and property to which the client is entitled); Colo. RPC 8.1(b) (a lawyer shall not knowingly fail to respond to a lawful demand for information from a disciplinary authority); and Colo. RPC 8.4(c) (a lawyer shall not engage in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation).
The case file is public per C.R.C.P. 251.31.