Cincinnati Bar Ass'n v. Edwards

DR 9-102(A) requires that all funds of a client paid to a lawyer be deposited in a bank account in which no funds of the lawyer are deposited. In this case respondent deposited the funds of his clients in his one and only bank account, and not only failed to maintain any record or accounting of those funds, but also used the funds for his own office and personal expenses. These actions were tantamount to a conversion of the clients’ funds.

“There are few ethical breaches which impact more negatively on the integrity of the legal profession than the misuse of a client’s funds.” Disciplinary…