Opinion ID: 1833321
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 10

Heading: Retention of Client Funds

Text: As noted, supra, respondent's trust account records showed an account balance of $2,350.23 on December 31, 1996. In addition to the amounts owed to BDI, Kuperis, Wubben and Fuller, respondent also owed funds to the following clients in the following amounts: Nuage Challenges, $255.00; Geraldine E. Renner, $105.00; James Zipp, $45.00; Wayne Tomporowski, $10.00; and Blake Long, $228.32. There remains a question as to whether respondent has sufficient funds in his trust account to pay each of these individual accounts. Until just prior the April 4, 1997 hearing, respondent did nothing to return any retained funds to his clients even though his representation of those clients ceased years ago. In every case, respondent simply claimed that he had no responsibility to return those client funds until each client made a specific request to have the money returned.