Hansen

The Disciplinary Board of the State Bar of California has recommended that petitioner be suspended from the practice of law for six months. We accept the board’s recommendation.

Petitioner was admitted to the practice of law in California in 1955 and has no prior record of discipline. According to petitioner’s own admission, “In January of 1970 petitioner was hired to represent one Lela Lewis in a personal injury auto-to-auto accident occurring on September 6, 1969. He failed to file a suit by the expiration of the one year statute of limitations, September 6, 1970 and then concealed that fact from her until October of 1975 . . . .”

The record indicates that although petitioner continually represented to his client that her case was proceeding satisfactorily, in fact petitioner had neglected to file the requisite complaint or to pursue a workers’ compensation claim on behalf of Mrs. Lewis. On February 22, 1971, petitioner paid a $500 hospital admission fee for Mrs. Lewis, whose health and financial condition had deteriorated. The board found that *70 petitioner made this payment in order to conceal from Mrs. Lewis the fact that he had failed to file her personal'injury…