Opinion ID: 1536896
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Deposit, Disbursement and Withholding of Settlement Proceeds

Text: 4. Ms. Fisher-Hammond's case settled in or about April 1996. Pursuant to the settlement, the Maryland Automobile Insurance Fund (MAIF) issued a check (No. C25283) dated April 12, 1996 to Robin Hammond and John Anderson, Attorney in the amount of $14,338.37. Tr. 225, 313-315; BX 3, 7 at 2. 5. On or about April 19, 1996, Respondent deposited the MAIF check into an account denominated John Anderson & Associates and numbered XXXXXXXXXX at Signet Bank (now Wachovia Bank, Tr. 17, 20-21). Tr. 25, 27-28; BX 4 at l. Ms. Fisher-Hammond does not recall endorsing or even seeing the MAIF check. Tr. 53-54. But cf. Tr. 313-315 (Respondent's claim that he presented check to client for her co-endorsement). Respondent's bank account did not contain the words trust or escrow in its title. Tr. 22; BX 4-6. 6. On or about May 10, 1996, Respondent met Ms. Fisher-Hammond at her home and provided her with a check in the amount of $7,802.00 drawn on the John Anderson & Associates account at Signet Bank. Tr. 54-55, 226; BX 5 at 11, 11 A; BX 7 at 2. Respondent also presented and asked Ms. Fisher-Hammond to sign a disbursement sheet. Tr. 56, 224-225; BX 1. The disbursement sheet is undated and contains the following entries: SETTLEMENT STATEMENT Robin Hammond v. Anna Luckett Amount of Settlement ........................................................ $14,338.37 Rental Expenses Recovered (included in the above sum) ....................... $ 1,500.00 (No Atty Fee charged on this amount) Attorney Fee ................................................................ $ 4,279.00 (Atty Fee charged on $12,838.37 only) Misc. Expenses .............................................................. $ 100.00 (records fee to Hospital; phone calls to both insurance companies long dist.; pictures; postage; faxes; courier; trips to dealership) Dr. Launder ................................................................. $ 1,800.00 (reduced from $2,490.12 balance) P.G. Radiodiagnostic (reduced from $173.00) ................................. $ 133.00 P.G. Hospital ............................................................... $ 397.12 Capital Emergency Associates ................................................ $ 120.00 Total Medicals .............................................................. $ 2,450.12 PIP Benefits to A. Hammond .................................................. $ 292.75 Total to Ms. Hammond ........................................................ $ 7,802.00 Robin Hammond Ms. Robin Hammond Thank-you for using my office!! Tr. 56, 224-225; BX 1 (italicized text indicates Ms. Fisher-Hammond's signature). 7. Respondent indicated to Ms. Fisher-Hammond at the May 10 meeting that he would pay her medical providers using the $2,450.12 he had withheld from the settlement proceeds for that purpose. Tr. 58-60, 242; BX 1. The medical providers included Maryland Orthopedics, P.G. Radiodiagnostic, Capital Emergency Associates, and Laurel Regional Hospital (indicated on the disbursement sheet as P.G. Hospital). BX 1. As reflected on the disbursement sheet, Respondent represented that two of these providers, Maryland Orthopedics and P.G. Radiodiagnostic, had already agreed to reduce their bills. Tr. 57; BX 1. 8. As a consequence of her May 10, 1996 meeting with Respondent, Ms. Fisher-Hammond assumed that the medical providers would be paid with the withheld settlement proceeds and gave no further thought to their payment for some years thereafter. Tr. 59-61.