Legal Ethics
Ariz. Court Nixes $2.1M Sanctions Against Lawyer, Wife
An Arizona appeals court has overturned a lower court’s order that a Tuscon attorney and his wife turn $2.1 million over to the account of one of the attorney’s clients.
Last May, the Pima County Public Fiduciary accused lawyer Jack Rappeport, 84, of diverting funds for personal use from a 90-year-old client. A judge then ordered Rappeport to repay the monies, the Tuscon Citizen reports.
But a unanimous three-judge panel ruled last week that the lower court judge was wrong to impose sanctions on Rappeport’s wife Ginger. The Arizona Superior Court will get the case back to reconsider a penalty.
