Opinion
No. 03PDJ078.
October 14, 2003.
Attorney Regulation.
The Presiding Disciplinary Judge approved the parties' Conditional Admission of Misconduct and disbarred Respondent, Patrick J. Canty, attorney registration number 07761 from the practice of law in the State of Colorado. In 1997, respondent drafted a will for a client which contained a testamentary trust to provide for her disabled son upon her death. When the mother died, respondent, as trustee, administered the trust. The trust made no provision for the respondent's compensation as trustee. During the period that he administered the trust for the son, respondent converted to his own use and benefit in excess of $50,000. The respondent self-reported his misconduct to the appropriate law enforcement agency. Respondent's knowingly converting the funds belonging to the trust while acting as trustee amounted to dishonesty, deceit, fraud or misrepresentation in violation of Colo. RPC 8.4(c). Respondent was ordered to pay the costs of the disciplinary action.