Opinion ID: 2303979
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Heugas

Text: The final matter considered by the Board was a complaint filed by Altagracia Heugas. Pursuant to a written escrow agreement signed by Heugas, Alina Diaz, and respondent, respondent took possession of $30,000 which was deposited into his client account. The escrow agreement provided that bills relating to a parcel of real estate were to be paid from those escrowed funds. The respondent paid some of those bills; however, he also made unauthorized payments to third parties, and paid himself $11,000 in unauthorized fees. Heugas subsequently sought new counsel, who made written requests to respondent for an accounting of the funds. The respondent failed to provide such an accounting, and did not disclose to Heugas' new attorney that he had made the payments to himself and to third parties. At the disciplinary hearing, respondent claimed entitlement to the funds based on legal services he alleged were provided. However, the Board found that he had not received permission from his client to take funds from the escrowed money, and that his taking of the funds was in clear violation of the escrow agreement to which he was a signatory. The Board concluded that respondent had violated Rules 1.15(a), 8.4(b), and 8.4(c) in his representation of Heugas.