Opinion ID: 1807827
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: specification number one

Text: Alker is charged with misconduct in connection with his representation of Mrs. Irma Stogner in a worker's compensation case. Mrs. Stogner agreed to settle her claim for a lump sum of $28,000. The maximum attorney's fee for a $28,000 settlement is $3,800. [2] The settlement was court approved on June 18, 1980. After receiving the check, Alker took Mrs. Stogner to his bank, the First National Bank of Covington, Louisiana. The bank was closed, [3] but Alker made arrangements with a bank officer, Curtis M. Carpenter, to be admitted to transact business. Mrs. Stogner endorsed the $28,000 settlement draft and, at Mr. Alker's request, Mr. Carpenter accepted the draft. The bank issued four cashier's checks: $17,000 to Irma Stogner; $9,500 to Irma Stogner; $1,196 to Edward Alker; and $300 to Max Scott, Alker's employee. [4] Since Alker received the use of $1,500, [5] he was entitled to an additional $2,300 in attorney's fees; he claims he accepted only the $1,500. In fact, Alker retained the $9,500 check made out to Mrs. Stogner. The proof tapes of the bank show that the $9,500 check was involved in a transaction on June 19, 1980. [6] Although the check was not cashed, [7] Alker used the check to transact personal bank business. He made a loan payment of $7,200 and deposited $2,300 in his Golden Brush Farms, Inc. checking account; the two transactions total $9,500. [8] Since Alker converted the cashier's check for $9,500, he received $11,000 from the $28,000 settlement. This is in excess of the statutory maximum award for attorney's fees in worker's compensation cases. [9] By converting Mrs. Stogner's funds to his own use, Alker was guilty of misconduct [10] and violated four disciplinary rules, as well as LSA-R.S. 23:1141. He collected an excessive fee; [11] attempted to exonerate himself from liability for personal malpractice; [12] damaged his client during their professional relationship; [13] and failed to deposit the client's funds in an identifiable bank account separate from his own. [14] Prior to the Committee's hearings, Mrs. Stogner filed suit against Mr. Alker to regain the excess fee. [15] After judgment was rendered against Alker for $6,200, she settled for $4,500. Her attorney received $2,000 and she retained $2,500.