Opinion ID: 2590331
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 9

Heading: The Albrecht Matter 08PDJ027

Text: In April 2004, Christine Albrecht retained Respondent to assist in a dispute involving the sale of real estate. Ms. Albrecht gave Respondent $4,800.00 to hold in escrow pending resolution of the dispute. Respondent deposited the escrow funds into a COLTAF account and the escrow funds remained in the COLTAF account until Respondent removed them when the account was closed in June 2004. Respondent did not notify Ms. Albrecht that he had removed the escrow funds from the COLTAF account and did not seek or receive authorization for him to exercise dominion or control over such funds. The real estate dispute eventually resolved itself without further assistance from Respondent. Beginning in September 2006, Ms. Albrecht and others on her behalf began contacting Respondent seeking a refund of the escrow funds. Respondent initially failed to reply to these contacts, but later promised action to return the escrow funds. Respondent failed to follow through on any of his promised action. On August 24, 2007, Ms. Albrecht complained to the People who shortly thereafter commenced an investigation. The People asked Respondent to provide a current bank statement demonstrating that he continued to hold Ms. Albrecht's funds in trust. Respondent promised to provide such a statement, but then failed to do so. The People then issued notices of deposition and subpoenas to Durango banks where Respondent maintained accounts. Respondent did not respond to the request for investigation or substantively participate in the investigation. In early October 2007, Respondent paid $4,800.00 to Ms. Albrecht in the form of a check drawn on a personal account with an entity called E-Trade Complete. Respondent violated Colo. RPC 8.4(c) when he knowingly exercised, albeit temporarily, unauthorized dominion or ownership over $4800.00 held in trust on behalf of his client. Respondent also violated Colo. RPC 8.1(b), Colo. RPC 3.4(c), and C.R.C.P. 251.5(d) when he knowingly failed to respond to requests by the People for information and therefore disobeyed an obligation under the rules of a tribunal.