Opinion
No. 03PDJ008.
April 25, 2003.
The Presiding Disciplinary Judge approved the parties' Conditional Admission of Misconduct and suspended Respondent, Christian J. Baril, attorney registration number 29738, from the practice of law for a period of three years in this reciprocal discipline matter from the State of Illinois. In one client matter, the respondent technically converted client or third party funds by failing to hold funds belonging to a client or third party separate from his own property, and failing to promptly deliver to a client or third party funds that the client or third party was entitled to receive. Respondent ultimately returned the converted funds but not until after ordered to do so by a court had entered judgment against him. Respondent's conduct violated Colo. RPC 1.15(a) and Colo. RPC 1.15(b). In a separate matter, respondent knowingly made a false statement of material fact or law to a tribunal and caused prejudice to the administration of justice in violation of Colo. RPC 3.3(a)(1), Colo. RPC 8.4(c) and Colo. RPC 8.4(d). Respondent also committed a criminal act that reflected adversely on his fitness as a lawyer in violation of Colo. RPC 8.4(b), by possessing less than 2.5 grams of cannabis, a Class C misdemeanor in Illinois. In another matter, respondent was found to have violated conflict of interest rules in Illinois which would constitute violations of Colo. RPC 1.7(a) and Colo. RPC 1.7(b). Respondent also communicated with a party he knew to be represented by another lawyer without consent or authorization in violation of Colo. RPC 4.2. Respondent's conduct resulted in prejudice to the administration of justice in violation of Colo. RPC 8.4(d). Respondent was ordered to pay costs of the proceeding.