In re Balok

Respondent was admitted to practice by this Court in 1967. He maintains an office for the practice of law in the City of Elmira, Chemung County.

Respondent has admitted the misconduct charged and specified in the petition of charges filed in this disciplinary proceeding, including the allegations that during the early months of 1999, he used $23,883.55 of client funds to cover his law office payroll for a two-week period, to satisfy a personal mortgage and to pay real estate taxes on a building that he owned.

We view respondent’s conversion of client funds a most serious violation of an…