Opinion ID: 1130148
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: COUNT I: Richerson

Text: John Richerson hired Respondent, paying him an attorney fee and an additional $738.00 for payment of fines and court costs on traffic charges for which Richerson had been arrested. The Respondent did not appear in court on the scheduled date and did not pay Mr. Richerson's fines and costs as he had promised, but instead converted the $738.00 to his own use and benefit. As a result, a bench warrant was issued for Mr. Richerson's arrest. The Respondent deposited the funds in his attorney trust account and used those funds to pay personal bills from the trust account. These actions occurred in April, July and August of 1993. It is stipulated that these actions constituted conversion and commingling of client funds in violation of Rules 8.4(c), 1.15, 1.1 and 1.3 of the Oklahoma Rules of Professional Conduct, and Rule 1.4(b) of the Rules Governing Disciplinary Proceedings. [1]