Hiding Assets In Escrow Draws Disbarment

We regularly encounter cases where an attorney is disbarred for violating Rule 1.15 by misappropriating entrusted funds.

The Maryland Court of Appeals ordered disbarment today for a different type of escrow account dishonest misuse

The gravamen of Respondent’s misconduct is his dishonest and fraudulent practice of depositing personal funds into an attorney escrow account in order to shield those funds from creditors—namely the IRS. We have said before, and it bears repeating here, that “[c]andor and truthfulness are two of the most important moral character traits of a lawyer.” (citation omitted)

I suspect that, if this attorney also is admitted in the District of Columbia, a lesser sanction will be imposed as reciprocal discipline if he objects to an identical sanction. (Mike Frisch)