A Winthrop attorney was issued a public reprimand earlier this week for professional misconduct.

Brian D. Condon Jr. previously was reprimanded and served a suspension for unrelated conduct.

In the most recent case handled by the Board of Overseers of the Bar, which regulates professional conduct, Jayne S. Colby, a retired Massachusetts attorney, complained that Condon had sued her too late in small claims court in March 2014 for legal fees over real estate work he did for her in 2006-2007.

In April 2014, at a mediation session, Condon filed to dismiss the lawsuit.

A three-person grievance panel set up to handle Colby’s complaint found “that attorney Condon knew or should have known prior to the mediation (in the small claims action) that his suit was barred by the statute of limitations.”

It concluded that Condon’s “delayed and unspecific billing for the prior representation was improper since there was no agreement with Ms. Colby to fee amounts, hourly rates or the method of billing.”

It also said Condon’s seeking 10 percent interest on the $945 he said was owed “was likewise improper” because Colby had not agreed to it.

“In his appearance before the Grievance Commission, attorney Condon apologized to Ms. Colby and acknowledged his regret for his conduct relating to the action he filed against her,” according to the order posed April 10 on the website of the Board of Overseers of the Bar. A public disciplinary hearing was held that day, and Condon represented himself.

“I agreed to the reprimand, not because I intentionally set out to collect an unpaid fee after the statute of limitations ran, but because of the way the statute was calculated by the board, which was from the day the legal work was completed, and not from the day the bill went to the client,” Condon said on Friday via email. “I understand that interpretation and would simply like all attorneys to understand that is how the statute of limitations is being calculated, from the day the work is done.”

The board concluded that Condon violated rules of professional conduct, including those involving fees and misrepresentation. The decision is published on the website of the Maine Board of Overseers of the Bar.

The panel said it issued a public reprimand because it determined that Condon’s actions were not similar to those that led to a reprimand in 2008 over a case involving refinancing of a mortgage and an earlier suspension from practice over conduct that involved a theft of money from a client and from Condon’s former law firm.

Betty Adams — 621-5631

badams@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @betadams

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