Opinion ID: 2590331
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: The Wilson Matter 07PDJ078

Text: Clyde and Barbara Wilson retained Respondent to assist them with the sale of their residence after a lien had been placed on the property two days before its sale. Respondent thereafter arranged for the sale to close with the lien amount to be held in escrow by Respondent pending resolution of the dispute. At Respondent's request, Mr. Wilson tendered a check to Tasco, L.L.C., a company formed and owned by Respondent, for the amount of the lien ($13,600.00) on December 6, 2005. Respondent endorsed the check, deposited it into his operating account, and began spending the escrow funds the following day without authorization from the Wilsons. On August 20, 2006, Respondent filed a complaint in La Plata County District Court on behalf of the Wilsons. Respondent took no further action on the case, and the district court dismissed it for lack of prosecution on January 29, 2007. Throughout the first half of 2007, the Wilsons continually asked Respondent for the status of the litigation and for the return of their escrow funds. The Wilsons told Respondent that they needed the $13,600.00 to assist with the purchase of a home in Texas. Respondent initially failed to return the escrow funds and instead provided the Wilsons with a variety of excuses for the delay in returning them. On August 28, 2007, Mr. Wilson complained to the People and shortly thereafter Respondent returned the $13,600.00 to the Wilsons. Respondent exercised, albeit temporarily, unauthorized dominion and control over $13,600.00 held in trust on behalf of his clients and used these escrow funds for his own purposes. His knowing conversion of the escrow funds constitutes a violation of Colo. RPC 8.4(c). Respondent also violated Colo. RPC 1.15(a) when he knowingly failed to keep the escrow funds separate from his own.