Lawyer Who Borrowed From Client’s Savings Rebuked By New Jersey Supreme Court

The State Supreme Court in New Jersey rebuked an attorney who violated ethics rules by borrowing from an elderly client. According to the Court William J. Torre borrowed more than 70% of the life savings from an 86-year old woman identified as “M.D.” In order to deal with New Jersey’s “serious and growing problem of elder abuse” the court imposed a one-year suspension, which is more than the penalty that was recommended by an ethics panel. The decision is intended to provide notice to other attorneys not to commit this type of misconduct. Incidents of elder abuse like this one is a growing problem as society continues to age. These are the type of issues that people will need to carefully plan ahead for. The New Jersey Supreme Court’s complete unanimous 16-page decision on this matter can be read here.

See S.P. Sullivan, N.J. Supreme Court rebukes lawyer who borrowed most of elderly client’s savings, NJ.com, December 16, 2015.