Opinion ID: 2600234
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 13

Heading: claim iv

Text: (Failure to Keep Client or Third Party Funds Separate From the Lawyer's Own Property and Conversion of Client or Third Party FundsColo. RPC 1.15(a) and Conversion Colo. RPC 8.4(c)) Paragraphs 1 through 16 are incorporated herein as if fully set forth. Colo. RPC 1.15(a) provides that an attorney is required to hold the property of clients or third persons that is in an attorney's possession separate from the attorney's own property. The respondent was given an $800 cost deposit by his client and he never incurred any costs which would have required payment from those funds. The respondent has been asked by the Office of Attorney Regulation Counsel to provide records showing what he did with Ms. Thomas-Criswell's funds. The respondent has not supplied records showing that he held Ms. Thomas-Criswell's $800 cost advance separate from his own property. The statement made by the respondent to Ms. Thomas-Criswell that was left as a message on or about May 30, 2002, implies that he did not have her money and had not taken appropriate steps to safeguard those funds. Thus, the evidence indicates that the respondent used this $800 for himself or for others and did not use it in the only manner he had been authorized to use it namely for Ms. Thomas-Criswell's costs. Upon in formation and belief, the respondent failed to keep client or third party funds separate from his own property. The respondent did not have the consent of the client or anyone else in a position of authority to use any of Ms. Thomas-Criswell's funds except for costs in her case. Upon information and belief, the respondent exercised unauthorized dominion or ownership over these funds belonging to a client. By exercising unauthorized dominion or ownership over client or third party funds, the respondent knowingly converted and/or misappropriated such funds prior to them being earned. By such conduct, the respondent violated Colo. RPC 1.15(a) and Colo. RPC 8.4(c). WHEREFORE, the complainant prays at the conclusion hereof.