If I Had the Money…

An attorney who had accepted a fee just prior to imposition of a 181-day suspension got 60 days added to the sanction by the Kentucky Supreme Court.

The attorney was retained to handle a felony charge for $1,000 and received a $550 payment. The client’s mother (who had paid the fee) learned about the suspension from a third party and sought a refund, which got this response by email

If i had the money to give u I would. i would have finished if i were allowed to do so. Unfortunately i cant. i regret that and im sorry that i cant. i represented ur son in the boyle district court to date only for which i haue [sic] been paid what u paid. for that i thank you. i did not take the additional money u had for me because of my situation. i can do nothing else now. [sic]

The mother then filed a bar complaint. The attorney failed to respond. (Mike Frisch)