Opinion ID: 1232801
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Misappropriation of $6,275 in September 2003.

Text: After the balance of the Moser furniture order was canceled at the request of Peterson's wife, Peterson received a refund check from Moser in the amount of $6,275. Peterson deposited this money into one of his personal accounts. Peterson testified that he deposited such money to cover storage costs of Johnson's property, but he admitted that at the time of the deposit of the refund, Johnson only owed him half of the check's amount. According to Peterson, the remainder of the check constituted prepayment of future storage costs. The director argues that the referee clearly erred in not concluding that this prepayment of storage fees violated rule 1.15(a). Since Peterson, by his own testimony, admitted that he placed Johnson's money in his personal account before he had a claim of right to it, the referee clearly erred in not concluding that Peterson's retention of the entire refund check violated rule 1.15(a). [9]