Disciplinary Board of Supreme Court v. Lee

VANDE WALLE, Justice.

This is a disciplinary action against an attorney, Robert N. Lee.

Lee represented Kenneth Coppola in a divorce action. On May 6, 1978, Lee received a check for $3,000 from Mr. Coppola with instructions that he pay that amount to Coppola’s former wife, Nancy Coppola, as part of a court-ordered property settlement.

Lee deposited the cheek in his business account at a bank in Cavalier, North Dakota, and, on May 15, 1978, issued a check for $3,000 to Mrs. Coppola. Lee gave the check to counsel for Mrs. Coppola, who in turn mailed it to her. Upon receiving the check, Mrs.…