Boston Legal Malpractice LawyerThe Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (“SJC”), located in Boston, has entered an order disbarring an attorney after finding that he kept client funds for his personal use. In the Matter of Daniel P. Byrnes, a lawyer was named the executor of his brother in law’s estate and facilitated the sale of the decedent’s house for a total of $395,000. The attorney deposited the sale proceeds into his Interest on Lawyer’s Trust Account (“IOLTA”), instead of opening a separate estate account for the funds.
Articles Tagged with misuse of client funds
In re Wendy Jane Rickles, No. BD-2013-121: Attorney Disbarred for Misappropriating Client Funds
The Supreme Judicial Court (“SJC”), located in Boston, has entered an order disbarring a Massachusetts attorney after finding that she deposited client funds into her personal bank account and used the money for personal expenses. In the Matter of Wendy Jane Rickles, an attorney stole funds from two separate clients, and provided false information to two tribunals.
In re Reinaldo Gonzalez, No. BD-2013-100: Attorney Disbarred for Intentional Misuse of Client Funds
A single justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (“SJC”), located in Boston, has entered an order disbarring an attorney after finding that he used client funds for personal expenses. In the Matter of Reinaldo Gonzalez, an attorney stole funds belonging to three separate clients.
In re Michael J. Fenton, No. BD-2012-116: Attorney Suspended Indefinitely after Converting Client Funds
A single justice of the Supreme Judicial Court (“SJC”), located in Boston, Massachusetts, has entered an order indefinitely suspending of an attorney after finding that he had misused client funds. In the matter of Michael J. Fenton, an attorney was hired as counsel for the executor of an estate, including as closing attorney for the sale of the decedent’s residence. After the sale closed, the attorney received the proceeds, which were to be distributed equally to the decedent’s three sons.
In re Thomas Eisenstadt, No.BD-2012-067: Attorney Suspended after Keeping Clients’ Settlement Proceeds for Personal Use
A single justice of the Supreme Judicial Court (“SJC”) of Massachusetts has entered a judgment suspending a Boston attorney, after finding that he had misappropriated client funds. In the matter of Thomas Eisenstadt, a lawyer received settlement payments on behalf of two clients in unrelated matters and kept the money for himself. He eventually paid the clients their shares, but as a result of his withholding fund, medical liens were not paid.
In re David R. Ardito, No. BD-2012-102: Attorney Disbarred as a result of Legal Ethics Violations
The Supreme Judicial Court (“SJC”) in Boston, Massachusetts has entered a judgment of disbarment of a Massachusetts attorney, who practiced law in Rhode Island without a license and misused client funds. In the matter of David R. Ardito, a lawyer had a longstanding friendship with a married couple from Rhode Island. In 2005, the wife sustained personal injuries in an auto accident and as the result of a slip and fall at a local store.
Both incidents occurred in Rhode Island, and although he was not licensed to practice law there, he offered to represent the wife, pro bono. In doing so, the attorney misrepresented his qualifications in violation of Mass. R. Prof. C. 1.16(a)(1). The wife agreed to hire the attorney, and he commenced separate actions against the other driver and the store which constituted the unauthorized practice of law contrary to Mass. R. Prof. C. 5.5(a). Two years later, he settled both cases without informing the couple. He received settlement checks and signed them on behalf of the couple without their authority, deposited the funds into his lawyers trust account, and never dispersed them to the couple.
Over the following years, the wife made repeated inquiries about the status of the cases. The lawyer falsely ensured her that the lawsuits were ongoing. Eventually, the woman became suspicious and filed a petition with the Board of Bar Overseers (“BBO”), who instituted disciplinary proceedings.