In Re Complaint as to the Conduct of Richards

Oren R. Richards, a member of the Oregon State Bar, is charged with entering into a contingent fee contract resulting in a fee to him so exorbitant and disproportionate to the services performed as to shock the conscience and merit disciplinary action.

A brief statement of the facts reveals that Richards made this contract with one Francis A. Raymond, a person then 84 years of age, of low-grade education and whose work had been at various lands of common labor. Under the agreement as drawn Richards was to receive one half the value of the statutory homestead then part of the modest estate of…