A Minnetonka attorney was disbarred for professional misconduct Wednesday by the Minnesota Supreme Court.
Paul Moe, 71, misappropriated funds from a ward, represented a client despite a conflict of interest, disobeyed court orders and made false statements to a court, the court found. The allegations were brought forward in a petition filed by the Office of Lawyers Professional Responsibility.
Moe advised a client in 2008 on financial matters on behalf of his father. The client's brother wanted to replace him, and hired Moe as his attorney. That was a conflict of interest, according to the petition.
Moe misappropriated nearly $400 from that same client after he died. He also failed to report or hid nearly $6,000 in client fees and received a $5,000 sanction from the court, which he didn't pay.
The petition stated that given Moe's serious misconduct, the Office of Lawyers Professional Responsibility concluded that disbarment was the appropriate sanction.
DAVID CHANEN
