In re Buchbinder

Respondent was admitted to practice in this Department in 1928. In 1960 he represented one Janes, the owner of a delicatessen, in the sale of that business. As a step in that transaction, the buyers placed $9,000 in escrow with respondent, conditioned upon approval of the transfer of a license to sell beer by the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board. From the outset, the respondent treated this escrow deposit in an unethical and unprofessional manner. The money passed from the purchaser to Janes and thence to respondent. Although respondent gave a receipt for the entire sum, he allowed Janes to…