$157.57

A random audit of an attorney trust account got an attorney admonished by the Vermont Professional Responsibility Board.

The attorney had not maintained necessary records, had placed estate funds in his IOLTA account rather than a separate account and had failed to perform monthly reconciliations.

He also left $157.57 of his own funds in the escrow account to cover bank charges.

Disciplinary counsel was of the view that any more than $50 was excessive. The board here found that the bar was not on notice of disciplinary counsel’s views (with which it did not necessarily agree) and declined to find any violation based on the attorney’s decision to keep that amount in the account. (Mike Frisch)