The story has a potential for pathos.  Attorney working for a law firm receives fee payments meant for the firm, and treats them as if a loan.  Why?  He has Parkinson’s disease, and perhaps needed the money.  The payments continue until the law firm moves to withdraw as attorney because of non-payment.Client sues for legal malpractice and it all comes to light.   Attorney now is suspended until the disciplinary matter is over.  That may be a long long time.

Matter of Hornstein  2014 NY Slip Op 05370  Decided on July 17, 2014  Appellate Division, First Department  Per Curiam

"At his September 25, 2013 deposition before the Committee, respondent, who was represented by counsel, admitted that between 2010 and 2011 he diverted approximately 10 payments (via checks) totaling approximately $83,000 made by a client, which were intended as payments of legal fees to his law firm in connection with a zoning matter respondent had been handling for the client. Rather than remit the funds to his firm, respondent used the funds for his own personal purposes, mostly for expenses related to his Parkinson’s disease. Respondent also admitted that he failed to declare the $83,000 as taxable income because he considered it to be more in the "nature of a loan" which he intended to pay back.

Respondent’s firm was unaware that the client had paid respondent directly, and in May 2012 the firm filed a motion asking to withdraw as attorney of record in another matter it was handling for the client in light of his total unpaid balance for legal fees and disbursements. The firm only learned of the client’s payments to respondent in July 2012 after the client had commenced an action against respondent and the firm for, inter alia, legal malpractice, at which time the firm confronted respondent. Shortly thereafter, respondent left the firm and self-reported his diversion of legal fees to the Committee. In December 2012, respondent reimbursed the firm in full.

"The record sufficiently establishes that respondent repeatedly misappropriated and/or converted law-firm funds and used the funds without permission for his own personal purposes. Further, this Court has issued interim suspensions under similar circumstances to those here (see e.g. Matter of Getreu, 113 AD3d 148 [1st Dept 2013] [interim suspension for, inter alia, misappropriation and/or conversion of client funds for own personal purposes based on, inter alia, substantial admissions under oath]; Matter of Gibson, 104 AD3d 228 [1st Dept 2013] [same]; Matter of Armenakis, 58 AD3d 222 [1st Dept 2008][interim suspension based on admission during deposition to, inter alia, conversion of escrow funds]; Matter of Wertis, 307 AD2d 15 [1st Dept 2003] [interim suspension for, inter alia, misappropriation of trust funds based on, inter alia, substantial admissions under oath]).

Accordingly, the Committee’s motion is granted and respondent suspended from the practice of law, effective immediately, and until such time as disciplinary matters pending before the Committee have been concluded, and until further order of this Court.."