Opinion ID: 1933785
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Failure to Maintain Complete Records

Text: We agree with the Board's conclusion that appellant violated Disciplinary Rule 9-103(B)(3), failure to maintain complete records. Its reasoning as set forth in its report, which we adopt, was as follows: Disciplinary Rule 9-103(B)(3) requires that an attorney maintain complete records of all client funds in his possession. Here, Respondent was unable to produce a ledger of the checks he wrote on the client trust account or bank statements and accounting records showing what was paid to or received from his clients. Respondent claims that his poor record-keeping was caused by his move from the District of Columbia to Boston. As the Hearing Committee correctly noted, [a]lthough this fact may explain, it does not excuse [R]espondent's failure to keep records. Hrg.Com.Rpt. at 19. Accordingly, we concur in the Hearing Committee's conclusion that Respondent failed to maintain documentation on his clients' fund and thereby violated Disciplinary Rule 9-103(B)(3).