Addiction Without Rehabilitation Equals Disbarment Where Attorney Bought Drugs With Entrusted Funds

A Fargo attorney was disbarred by the North Dakota Supreme Court for client-related misconduct..

The court noted the following findings by the hearing panel

The hearing panel made the following additional findings of fact. L. used methamphetamine and crack cocaine from November 2010 to July 2012, when professional colleagues staged in intervention. L. again used those drugs from November 8, 2012, to January 25, 2013. During the time of heaviest use, L. used drugs daily. L. used client funds to buy drugs, knowing she was putting their money at risk. She knew clients entrusted funds to her safekeeping, and they had not authorized her to use the money for her own purposes.

L. participated in outpatient rehabilitation services from the Southeast Human Resources Center and has not used drugs or alcohol since January 25, 2013. She has not availed herself of all the prescribed rehabilitative treatment and after-care programs. L. did not undergo an in-patient treatment program and discontinued group therapy. She does not attend Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous meetings, does not have an Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous sponsor, and has not participated with the Lawyer Assistance Program Committee for sufficient time for it to develop an individualized assistance plan.

If an addicted attorney wants to avoid disbarment, it is essential to establish compliance with a recovery program. (Mike Frisch)