Opinion ID: 1883843
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The Crisp Matter

Text: In November 1997, David Crisp retained respondent to represent him in a personal injury matter arising out of an automobile accident. In April 1998, respondent settled Mr. Crisp's claim for $15,000. Respondent deposited the settlement check into his operating account because he did not maintain a client trust account. Respondent paid Mr. Crisp his portion of the settlement and withheld the sum of $3,732 for payment of Mr. Crisp's medical expenses. Respondent later withdrew these funds from his operating account and placed the cash in a safe or black box. Respondent did not pay Mr. Crisp's medical expenses until 2000, some two years after he received the settlement proceeds. The ODC alleges that respondent's conduct violated the following provisions of the Rules of Professional Conduct: Rules 1.15(a) (safekeeping property of clients or third persons), 1.15(b) (failure to promptly remit client funds and failure to provide an accounting of client funds), 1.15(c) (failure to keep disputed funds separate from the lawyer's own funds), 1.15(d) (failure to maintain a client trust account), 8.4(a) (violation of the Rules of Professional Conduct), 8.4(c) (engaging in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation), and 8.4(d) (engaging in conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice).