Laviano v. Statewide Grievance Committee, No. 99-0497413s (Jul. 28, 2000)

**What Happened** This case involved a lawyer who was disciplined by Connecticut's Statewide Grievance Committee for poor treatment of a client. The attorney failed to properly communicate with his client about important developments in their case, including when a settlement fell through and when he decided to withdraw from representing them. The committee found that the lawyer essentially abandoned his client's legal matter without keeping them informed. **What the Court Decided** The Connecticut Superior Court upheld the Grievance Committee's decision to reprimand the attorney. The court agreed there was strong evidence that the lawyer violated professional conduct rules by failing to communicate promptly with his client and not being diligent in handling their case. **Why This Matters for Workers** This ruling reinforces important protections for people who hire attorneys. Workers facing employment issues need to know they can expect regular communication from their lawyers about case developments. If an attorney fails to keep clients informed or abandons their case, professional disciplinary action can result. Workers should feel empowered to file complaints with their state's grievance committee if their attorney isn't meeting basic communication and diligence standards.