Opinion ID: 2303979
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Westrick

Text: On May 2, 2005, Alexandra Luciano and Frederico Diaz were injured in an automobile accident. They both sought medical treatment for their injuries from Amy Westrick, M.D. and hired respondent to represent them in a claim for damages. Doctor Westrick's bill for services to Luciano was $1,555, and her bill to Diaz was $1,480. On or about August 15, 2005, respondent settled both claims and withheld sufficient funds from the settlements to pay the medical bills due to Dr. Westrick. However, he did not remit those funds. In 2006, Luciano and Diaz sought treatment from Dr. Westrick for injuries unrelated to the automobile accident. At that time, she learned that their personal injury claims had been settled. Doctor Westrick sought payments of the medical bills from the respondent; when those payments were not forthcoming, she filed a complaint with the Board. At the disciplinary hearing, respondent testified that he believed that Dr. Westrick was not expecting payment of these bills, and that therefore, he had paid those funds to an assistant in his office who had provided services as an interpreter. He further testified that he had no intention of cheating Dr. Westrick out of her funds. The Board did not lend much credence to respondent's explanations. The Board concluded that respondent violated Rule 1.15(b) and 1.15(c) of the Rules of Professional Conduct when he withheld funds from his clients' settlements sufficient to pay the medical bills and failed to make such payments. [2] Rule 1.15(b) states: Upon receiving funds or other property in which a. client or third person has an interest, a lawyer shall promptly notify the client or third person. Except as stated in this rule or otherwise permitted by law or by agreement with the client, a lawyer shall promptly deliver to the client or third person any funds or other property that the client or third per-son is entitled to receive and, upon request by the client or third persons, shall promptly render a full accounting regarding such property. Rule 1.15(c) provided: When in the course of representation a lawyer is in possession of property in which both the lawyer and another person claim interests, the property shall be kept separate by the lawyer until there is an accounting and severance of their interests. If a dispute arises concerning their respective interests, the portion in dispute shall be kept separate by the lawyer until the dispute is resolved. [3] Additionally, the Board determined that respondent had not been fully candid in his responses to the disciplinary complaint in violation of Rule 8.1 [4] of the Rules of Professional Con-duct, and that he had violated Rules 8.4(b) [5] and 8.4(c) [6] as well. C