Here is a summary of the matter from an earlier story in The New Mexican ("Ortiz Looks for Deal With Court," May 17, 2003, p. B1):

In one case, Ortiz allegedly was paid $750 to represent a couple in a child-support case, then refused to refund the money after the couple told him his services weren't required.

In another case, Ortiz sued the U.S. Postal Service, alleging that a client was wrongfully terminated; he then failed to respond to a motion seeking to dismiss the case, the board said.

The board also accused Ortiz of failing to respond to a series of letters over five months from the disciplinary counsel and then failing to appear at two hearings before the board.

Ortiz "has engaged in a pattern of misconduct" and "bad-faith obstruction of the disciplinary proceeding," the board said.

In a public statement, Mr. Ortiz called his failure to respond to the disciplinary board "a very bad mistake."