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Maritess Garcia vs Atty. Iluminado M. Manuel

MARITESS GARCIA, complainant, vs. ATTY. ILUMINADO M. MANUEL, respondent.

A.C. No. 5811 | 2003-01-20

R E S O L U T I O N

DAVIDE, JR., C.J.:

For our resolution is the administrative complaint for disbarment filed by complainant Maritess Garcia against respondent Atty. Iluminado M. Manuel for gross misconduct for ineffectively handling her case and failing to return to her the money she gave him.

The facts, as culled from the records, are uncomplicated:

Sometime in February 1999, Maritess Garcia, divorced from husband Oscar Fauni, approached respondent for legal advice concerning child support and her condominium unit in San Juan, Metro Manila, which her erstwhile husband refused to vacate. Respondent agreed to handle her case at a fee...