Summary
recordkeeping violations and negligent misappropriation of trust account funds occurred when the attorney returned a client's deposit from a failed real estate transaction, having forgotten that he had already taken a portion of those funds as legal fees that the client owed; the client did not dispute the attorney's entitlement to the funds; prior admonition and mitigating factors considered
Summary of this case from In re MaragoOpinion
03-30-2015
In the Matter of José M. CAMERON, an Attorney at Law (Attorney No. 015281978).
ORDER
This matter have been duly presented pursuant to Rule 1:20–10(b), following a granting of a motion for discipline by consent in DRB 15–013 of JOSÉ M. CAMERON of PERTH AMBOY, who was admitted to the bar of this State in 1978;
And the Office of Attorney Ethics and respondent having signed a stipulation of discipline by consent in which it was agreed that respondent violated RPC 1.15(a) (negligent misappropriation of client trust funds), RPC 1.15(d) (failure to comply with the recordkeeping requirements of Rule 1:21–16), and Rule 1:21–6 (recordkeeping violations);
And the parties having agreed that respondent's conduct violated RPC 1.15(a), RPC 1.15(d) and Rule 1:21–6, and that said conduct warrants a reprimand to a censure, or lesser discipline;
And the Disciplinary Review Board having determined that a reprimand is the appropriate discipline for respondent's unethical conduct and having granted the motion for discipline by consent in District Docket No. XIV–2012–0674E;
And the Disciplinary Review Board having submitted the record of the proceedings to the Clerk of the Supreme Court for the entry of an order of discipline in accordance with Rule 1:20–16(e);
And good cause appearing;
It is ORDERED that JOSÉ M. CAMERON of PERTH AMBOY is hereby reprimanded; and it is furtherORDERED that the entire record of this matter be made a permanent part of respondent's file as an attorney at law of this State; and it is further
ORDERED that respondent reimburse the Disciplinary Oversight Committee for appropriate administrative costs and actual expenses incurred in the prosecution of this matter, as provided in Rule 1:20–17.