Opinion ID: 2608685
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: the whitla matter

Text: Petitioner settled claims on behalf of William Whitla for $4,500. Petitioner's law partner drew a check on the firm's trust account for $2,250 payable to Whitla as his share of the settlement proceeds. The check was entrusted to petitioner for delivery to Whitla, but petitioner failed to forward the check. Instead, without Whitla's consent or authority, petitioner forged Whitla's endorsement, negotiated the check, and diverted the proceeds to his own use. After Whitla contacted petitioner's law firm to inquire about the settlement, petitioner's law partners confronted petitioner with the fact Whitla had received nothing. Before he was contacted by the State Bar, petitioner sent Whitla checks totaling $3,000.