In re Hayes

Respondent was admitted to practice fry this Court in January 1980. He maintains an office for the practice of law in Albany.

During the course of representing the seller at a real estate closing, respondent took possession of a check for the closing proceeds in the amount of $20,733.69. The check was made payable to respondent as attorney for the seller. At that time, respondent had written checks against his personal checking account which he reasonably expected would be covered by a wire transfer of funds deposited into the account from a relative. When he discovered that the wire transfer…