SUSAN T. DE LEON vs. ATTY.

ANTONIO GERONIMO
A.C. No. 10441 February 14, 2018

FACTS:
Susan T. De Leon filed a disbarment complaint against Atty. Antonio A. Geronimo for
violating the Lawyer's Oath and the Code of Professional Responsibility (CPR). The case
began when De Leon hired Geronimo to represent her in a labor case where her
employees filed complaints for illegal dismissal and violations of labor standards. The
Labor Arbiter dismissed these complaints but ordered De Leon to pay each employee
P5,000.00 as financial assistance. The employees then filed an appeal before the National
Labor Relations Commission (NLRC), which reversed the LA decision and ordered De
Leon and her co-respondents to reinstate the employees and pay them more than P7
Million.

De Leon was disappointed with Geronimo's Motion for Reconsideration, which was only
three pages long and did not address all the issues in the decision. She later filed a
Supplemental Motion for Reconsideration before the NLRC, which was denied by the
NLRC in a Resolution dated August 26, 2005. De Leon decided not to appeal the LA's
award of financial assistance and merely wait for the employees to file an appeal.

On January 31, 2011, the Commission on Bar Discipline of the Integrated Bar of the
Philippines (IBP) recommended Atty. Geronimo's suspension from the practice of law for
a period of six months. On December 29, 2012, the IBP Board of Governors passed a
resolution stating that respondent was remiss in his duty as counsel for complainant, and
recommended to the court for a suspension practice of law for three months.

ISSUE:
Whether or not Atty. Geronimo should be suspended for violations of the CPR.

RULING:
Yes. The Court finds that Atty. Geronimo must be sanctioned for his acts. Canon 17 and
Canon 18, Rules 18.03 and 18.04 of the CPR provide that a lawyer owes faithfulness to
the cause of his client and must be mindful of the trust and confidence regained in him.
Rule 18.03 states that a lawyer shall not neglect a legal matter entrusted to them, and his
negligence in connection therewith shall render him liable. Rule 18.04 states that a
lawyer shall keep the client informed of the status of his case and respond within a
reasonable time to the client's request for information.

De Leon received Atty. Geronimo's Motion for Reconsideration, which was disappointing
due to its short length and lack of comprehensiveness. After providing her with the LA
and NLRC decisions, she never heard from him again. When she called him in March
2006, he was denied the motions by the NLRC and no longer appealed the case to the
CA. Lawyers are expected to be diligent in handling cases, including reviewing,
representing clients, attending hearings, preparing pleadings, prosecuting cases promptly,
and urging termination without waiting for the client or court. Neglect can lead to
disciplinary action, as demonstrated by Atty. Geronimo's six-month suspension.