In the Matter of Ronald J. Moore

Summary

The Indiana Supreme Court approved an agreed disciplinary resolution suspending attorney Ronald J. Moore from practice for at least 18 months. Moore retained $19,400 in fees belonging to his law firm and concealed the conduct by making misrepresentations to firm attorneys, violating Indiana Professional Conduct Rules 8.4(b) and 8.4(c).

Holdings

1. By stealing funds that belonged to his law firm pursuant to the parties' agreement, Moore committed a criminal act reflecting adversely on his honesty, trustworthiness, or fitness as a lawyer, in violation of Indiana Professional Conduct Rule 8.4(b).
2. By lying to his colleagues about the fees he had retained, Moore engaged in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation, in violation of Indiana Professional Conduct Rule 8.4(c).
3. An eighteen-month suspension from the practice of law was appropriate for Moore's planned and repeated conversion of fees and his accompanying deception, notwithstanding mitigating factors such as repayment, counseling, and voluntary reporting.

Questions Presented

1. Whether Moore violated Indiana Professional Conduct Rules 8.4(b) and 8.4(c) by converting law-firm fees and making misrepresentations to conceal the conversion.
2. Whether an eighteen-month suspension from the practice of law was appropriate discipline for the misconduct.

Disposition

approved