No. 56126.Supreme Court of Nevada.
June 23, 2010.
ORDER OF TEMPORARY SUSPENSION
This is a joint petition by the State Bar and attorney Jorge L. Sanchez for an order temporarily suspending Sanchez from the practice of law, pending the resolution of formal disciplinary proceedings against him. The petition and supporting documentation demonstrate that Sanchez has failed to safekeep funds, in potentially hundreds of cases.
SCR 102(4)(a) provides, in pertinent part:
On the petition of a disciplinary board, signed by its chair or vice chair, supported by an affidavit alleging facts personally known to the affiant, which shows that an attorney appears to be posing a substantial threat of serious harm to the public, the supreme court may order, with notice as the court may prescribe, the attorney’s immediate temporary suspension or may impose other conditions upon the attorney’s practice.
In addition, SCR 102(4)(b) provides that we may place restrictions on an attorney’s handling of funds.
We conclude that the documentation before us demonstrates that Sanchez poses a substantial threat of serious harm to the public, and that his immediate temporary suspension is warranted under SCR 102(4)(a). Accordingly, we hereby order attorney Jorge L. Sanchez temporarily suspended from the practice of law pending the resolution of formal disciplinary proceedings against him.
We further conclude that Sanchez’s handling of funds should be restricted. Accordingly, pursuant to SCR 102(4)(a), (b), and (c), we impose upon Sanchez the following conditions:
1. Sanchez is precluded from accepting new cases and is precluded from continuing to represent existing clients, effective immediately upon service of this order;
2. All proceeds from Sanchez’s practice of law and all fees and other funds received from or on behalf of his clients shall, from the date of service of this order, be deposited into a trust account from which no withdrawals may be made by Sanchez except upon written approval of bar counsel; and
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3. Sanchez is prohibited from withdrawing any funds from any and all accounts in any way relating to his law practice, including but not limited to his general and trust accounts, except upon written approval of bar counsel.
The state bar shall immediately serve Sanchez with a copy of this order. Such service may be accomplished by personal service, certified mail, delivery to a person of suitable age at Sanchez’s place of employment or residence, or by publication.[1] Sanchez shall comply with the provisions of SCR 115.
It is so ORDERED.[2]
CHERRY, J.
SAITTA, J.
GIBBONS, J.
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