Opinion ID: 1091057
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Count II(A-H)

Text: Respondent represented multiple clients who received medical treatment at Baton Rouge Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (provider). Respondent settled seven cases and withheld funds from these settlements to pay the provider. The funds due the provider totaled $14,649. However, respondent failed to remit the payments to the provider and instead converted the funds to his own use. On November 5, 2000, respondent agreed to pay the provider the balances owed on all of his clients' accounts, including those cases that were still pending, as well as the seven that had settled. The total amount owed at that time was $20,819. Respondent agreed to make thirteen monthly payments of $1,500 each, plus a final payment of $1,319, which was due in December 2001. By the end of December 2001, respondent had made only sporadic payments totaling $9,800 and still owed the provider $11,019. On December 28, 2001, the provider filed a disciplinary complaint against respondent. Subsequently, respondent made additional payments to the provider. However, as of May 9, 2002, he still owed the provider $9,969. Furthermore, in making payments, respondent failed to direct the provider to apply them to specific client accounts. As such, the provider applied them to the oldest accounts first. Therefore, of the $14,649 respondent owed on the settled cases, he still owed $4,819 as of May 9, 2002. The ODC alleges respondent's conduct in these matters violated Rule 8.4(c) (engaging in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation) of the Rules of Professional Conduct.