In re Ladas

Respondent Christos G. Ladas was admitted to the practice of law in the District of Columbia on November 22, 1991. He was subsequently suspended on November 30, 1995, for his failure to pay Bar Membership dues. On February 7, 2001, Ladas was disciplined by the Appellate Division of the New York Supreme Court, Fourth Department (the “New York Court”), based on the finding that he violated Disciplinary Rules 1-102 (A)(4) (misrepresentation and dishonesty); 1-102 (A)(7) (fitness to practice law); 9-102 (A) (misappropriating client funds); and 9-102 (B)(1) (failing to maintain funds of a client in a special account separate from business or personal accounts) of the New York Code of Professional Responsibility. The New York Court imposed a two-year suspension in light of the “matters of mitigation submitted by respondent, including the fact that Respondent has made restitution.”

The suspension arose from his representation of Ronald E. Johns, the personal representative of the Estate of Mildred R. Bergmann, in matters related to the administration of the Estate. In March 1999, Mr. Johns delivered a check to Ladas in the amount of $76,593.49, payable to the Bergmann Estate, representing the proceeds of a government securities account maintained by the decedent. On March 10, 1999, Ladas deposited the full amount into a trust account. Thereafter, Ladas made three payments from that account for legitimate expenses relating to the Bergmann Estate totaling $21,349.54. Between March 22, 1999 and July 22, 1999, Ladas drew on the trust account $51,425.00 for payment of his personal and business expenses unrelated to the administration of the Bergmann Estate. Subsequently, Ladas borrowed money from his father in order to repay the Bergmann Estate the funds he converted for his personal use. The record does not indicate whether that restitution was made before or after the conversion of the Bergmann Estate funds was discovered. However, Ladas delivered to the residuary beneficiaries their net shares of the Bergmann Estate, in amounts totaling $50,980.10, on March 31, 2000.