Opinion ID: 1215810
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: FIFTH CAUSE OF COMPLAINT (Pinkney M. Saxton)

Text: Pinkney M. Saxton consulted the accused between December 1982 and May 1983 concerning a property damage action previously filed on Saxton's behalf by another attorney and a potential cause of action against a previous employer for employment discrimination and improper termination. On May 31, 1983, the accused received from and issued a receipt to Saxton for $60 for partial fees. On October 19, 1983, the accused's secretary received $100.50 from Saxton and issued a receipt to Saxton for filing fees-civil cases. The accused did not file pleadings or complaints on either matter and did not pay or incur any filing fees on Saxton's behalf. Saxton was not reimbursed any part of the funds paid to the accused, nor did the accused render any accounting to Saxton of the disposition of funds received from Saxton. The accused did not deposit the $100.50 payment to a trust account, maintain records of the disposition of funds, or maintain time or billing records on the matters he worked on for Saxton. The accused has made no accounting for the funds. The Trial Panel concluded and this court concludes that the accused is guilty of violating former DR 9-102(A)(2) (current DR 9-101(A)(2)), which provided: All funds of clients paid to a lawyer or law firm, including advances for costs and expenses, shall be deposited in one or more identifiable trust accounts maintained in the state in which the law office is situated and no funds belonging to the lawyer or law firm shall be deposited therein except as follows:       (2) Funds belonging in part to a client and in part presently or potentially to the lawyer or law firm must be deposited therein, but the portion may be withdrawn when due unless the right of the lawyer or law firm to receive it is disputed by the client, in which event the disputed portion shall not be withdrawn until the dispute is finally resolved. The Trial Panel concluded and this court concludes that the accused is guilty of violating former DR 9-102(B)(3)(current DR 9-101(B)(3)), [6] in that the accused failed to maintain records of the funds or account to the client regarding them.