Opinion ID: 1195104
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Misappropriations Through Credit Balances

Text: In five separate probate estate, trust, and conservatorship matters in which the respondent was serving as a fiduciary, his billing statements demonstrate that he took considerable sums of money from accounts ... prior to or without earning such funds. These funds were deposited into the respondent's law office operating account or his personal account. None were deposited into the trust accounts for which respondent was a fiduciary. (1) From 1990 to 1995, the respondent at a minimum recklessly misappropriated $29,202.99 belonging to the Aitken Estate. (2) From 1990 to 1995, the respondent at a minimum recklessly misappropriated $45,729.20 from the estate of Philomena Marie Saccomano. (3) From 1990 to 1995, the respondent at a minimum recklessly misappropriated $4,726.24 of client funds belonging to the Shupe estate. (4) On August 1, 1991, the respondent was appointed interim trustee in the Michael Morris Walters irrevocable trust. From 1991 through 1995 the respondent at a minimum recklessly misappropriated $35,370.59 in client funds belonging to the trust. (5) The respondent was appointed as the personal representative of the estate of Verneta C. Memmen, deceased, on May 15, 1990, by the Douglas County district court. At a minimum, the respondent recklessly misappropriated $11,124.85 belonging to the estate. The respondent has also stipulated that he failed to keep the appropriate parties informed about the status of these five matters. The respondent's conduct, which occurred before and after the effective date of the Rules of Professional Conduct, January 1, 1993, violated DR 1-102(A)(4) and Colo. RPC 8.4(c) (engaging in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation); DR 1-102(A)(5) and Colo. RPC 8.4(d) (engaging in conduct that is prejudicial to the administration of justice); DR 1-102(A)(6) and Colo. RPC 8.4(h) (engaging in conduct that adversely reflects on the lawyer's fitness to practice law); and Colo. RPC 1.4 (failing to keep a client reasonably informed about the status of a matter).