Opinion ID: 1933803
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Use of Young's Funds

Text: Finally, Figliola contends that the Board should have considered the fact that Figliola always had sufficient funds to cover his use of Young's funds. Figliola concentrates on the wrong issue, however. The issue is not whether Figliola could have adequately reimbursed Young. Rather, the issue is whether Figliola should have taken a client's money without proper authorization. The New Jersey Supreme Court's holding in In re Librizzi, 117 N.J. 481, 569 A.2d 257, 261 (1990), is instructive with regard to this point. [Knowing misappropriation] consists simply of a lawyer taking a client's money and knowing that the client had not authorized the taking. It makes no difference ... whether the attorney intended to return the money when he took it, or whether in fact he ultimately did reimburse the client.... [T]he relative moral quality of the act, measured by these many circumstances that may surround both it and the attorney's state of mind, is irrelevant. (emphasis omitted). The Board's recommendation that Figliola be suspended for thirty days (when the maximum sanction for knowing or reckless misappropriation of funds is disbarment) indicates that the Board considered at least some of the factors during its deliberation. On this record, however, we view the misappropriation as a breach of trust necessitating more than a token suspension.