In re Zaleon

This disciplinary case concerns the appropriate sanction for an admitted violation of ethical standards, whereby respondent Ruth A. Zaleon, acting as settlement agent in real estate closings, collected amounts more than necessary for recording fees pertaining to each individual closing, and applied overages to unrelated matters, rather than refunding those amounts to the client who had paid them. Ear*836lier this year we concluded a public reprimand was an inadequate sanction and remanded this case to the Investigative Panel.1 We agree with that Panel’s subsequent recommendation and impose a…