Opinion ID: 2056529
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: count one: respondent failed to safeguard client funds by accumulating negative escrow account balances

Text: Rule 1.15(a) requires, in pertinent part, that a lawyer shall hold property of clients or third persons that is in a lawyer's possession in connection with a representation separate from the lawyer's own property and that property of clients or third persons must be appropriately safeguarded. Respondent admitted that he violated Rule 1.15(a) by failing to transfer earned attorneys' fees from his escrow account to his operating account in a timely manner, and by failing to ensure that negative client balances in the escrow account were not promptly identified and corrected on a monthly basis. (Answer at 4). This was confirmed by LFCP in the audit performed after March 31. 2009. (Exhibit 3).