Lawyer duties to clients

1. Whether an attorney breaches fiduciary duties and acts outside the scope of a contingent fee agreement when the attorney fails to file the client’s claim within the applicable statute of limitations and later files the agreement with a printed name and date not authorized or provided by the client? 2. Whether an attorney violates professional obligations when the attorney files a voluntary dismissal “by and through counsel” without the client’s knowledge or consent? 3. Whether repeated failures by counsel to communicate with the client, including failure to disclose the statute of limitations deadline, failure to provide necessary communication accommodation, and failure to consult on major litigation decisions, deprive the client of meaningful participation in the case? 4. Whether a court may rely on filings submitted by counsel when the client disputes that the filings were authorized and alleges that counsel altered or completed portions of a contingent fee agreement without the client’s knowledge?