Opinion ID: 1348121
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: The Ewerts

Text: Barbara and Art Ewert retained Skaalerud in October 1994 to represent them regarding an automobile accident. The liable party was insured by Allstate and Barbara Ewert's PIP carrier was State Farm. Skaalerud was to receive a one-third contingent fee of any funds recovered. In November 1995, a settlement was reached with Allstate and the Ewerts received their share of the proceeds. In December 1995, Skaalerud settled the State Farm claim for $13,500 without his clients' authority or knowledge. He forged their signatures on the settlement check and misappropriated the entire amount. In November 1996, he advised the Ewerts that State Farm was offering to settle for $13,500, but Barbara Ewert instructed him to make a counteroffer of $25,000. The Ewerts were thereafter unable to contact Skaalerud except once when he called them in February 1997 and said that he would repay them. However, he has not done so. The foregoing conduct violated Colo. RPC 1.2(a) (failing abide by a client's decision whether to accept an offer of settlement); Colo. RPC 1.4(a), 1.15(a), 1.15(b); Colo. RPC 8.4(b) (committing a criminal act); Colo. RPC 8.4(c) (engaging in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation); and Colo. RPC 8.4(h) (engaging in conduct adversely reflecting on fitness to practice).