Disbarment For Multiple Thefts

An attorney who had defaulted on charges of theft of entrusted funds was disbarred by the North Dakota Supreme Court. The court described the charges as follows:

The Petition alleges Sletten was the attorneyfor Anita Hopkins, an elderly widow. Sletten informed Hopkins herestate could have a substantial tax burden and she should reduce herestate through a gifting plan. Hopkins turned over approximately$300,000 in certificates of deposit and other investments to Sletten,which he held in his trust account. Hopkins died in November, 2005,without having named any gift beneficiaries. By June 2007, Slettentransferred funds held for Hopkins from his trust account for hispersonal use, along with an additional $40,000 belonging to anotherclient.

On July 24, 2007, an AmendedPetition for Discipline was filed. The Amended Petition asserts that in2005 Sletten assisted in the sale of a farm owned by Richard andElizabeth Conklin. The proceeds from the sale totaled approximately$180,000, which was held in Sletten’s trust account. Approximately$84,000 of the Conklins’ money was used for Sletten’s personal oroffice use without the client’s knowledge or consent.

The Amended Petition further asserts Sletten held money in his trustaccount for client Sally Mehlhoff. Sletten gave Mehlhoff a check fromhis trust account in the amount of $11,822.95, but when Mehlhoff triedto negotiate the check she was told there were insufficient funds topay the check. The money was used for Sletten’s personal or office usewithout the client’s knowledge or consent.

The Amended Petition further asserts Sletten was the attorney for theNels Peterson Estate and took in excess of $100,000 from the Estate forpersonal or office use without the client’s knowledge or consent.Finally, the Amended Petition asserts Sletten was the attorney for theJohn Vanderwerff Estate, which owned lots in Garrison. Sletten sold thelots for $12,000, and after taxes, the remaining amount of $5,835.76was paid to the Sletten Law Office. After paying some minor costs,Sletten took approximately $5,508.76 from the Estate for his personalor office use without the client’s knowledge or consent.

The court also ordered restitution as part of the discipline. (Mike Frisch)