Opinion ID: 2603654
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Evidence of Misconduct

Text: Before 1984, petitioner represented Dr. Cabrera and his wife in various legal matters. In 1984, following the death of Dr. Cabrera, his widow retained petitioner to represent the estate of her husband in an action for breach of contract. While the action was pending, Mrs. Cabrera moved to Tennessee. In March 1986, a judgment for $7,021 was entered in favor of the estate. Petitioner received payment of the judgment in April, deposited the funds in his client trust account, and notified Mrs. Cabrera of the receipt of the funds. Of the $7,021 received, petitioner was entitled to $1,432.57 for fees and costs, but he used all of the funds for his own purposes. Beginning in 1986, petitioner was contacted on various occasions by Mrs. Cabrera's Tennessee attorneys, who were attempting to obtain her funds from petitioner. Petitioner did not pay Mrs. Cabrera until April 1989, after the State Bar had initiated disciplinary proceedings and held an evidentiary hearing. Petitioner paid Mrs. Cabrera a total of $6,546 ($5,546 as principal and $1,000 as interest). In addition to the evidence relating to Mrs. Cabrera, the State Bar introduced into evidence the bank records of petitioner's trust account for the period February 1986 to February 1988. The records showed that the account was overdrawn on several occasions. Petitioner testified that he did not reconcile the bank statements, that individuals whom he had hired to reconcile his bank statements were unable to do so, and that he relied on his banker to reconcile his eight to fifteen bank accounts.