A Tucson attorney has been suspended by the Arizona Supreme Court and given 10 days to tell his clients they need to find a new lawyer.
Jack J. Rappeport, 84, was placed on an interim suspension by the Supreme Court Tuesday at the request of the Arizona State Bar.
The suspension means the University of Arizona professor emeritus can't accept new clients or continue to represent his existing clients, court documents indicate.
Rappeport declined to comment when reached at his office Tuesday afternoon, citing pending litigation.
According to court documents, the State Bar asked the Supreme Court for the suspension after receiving a complaint about Rappeport from the Pima County Public Fudiciary.
The public fudiciary claimed that Rappeport had "unlawfully converted significant amounts" of a 90-year-old client's assets. For instance, the public fudiciary said Rappeport had obtained the proceeds from the sales of two homes and funds from various bank and investment accounts. Moreover, the public fudiciary said Rappeport had transferred the client's residence into his name.
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In asking for the suspension, the State Bar said Rappeport's conduct "has caused substantial harm to at least one client, the public, the legal profession and the administration of justice. Unless subject to interim suspension, (Rappeport's) continued practice of law may result in irreparable harm and injury."
Instead of responding to the allegations, Rappeport asked that he be placed on disability inactive status, the State Bar informed the Supreme Court.
Two weeks ago, PIma County Superior Court Judge Clark Munger ordered Rappeport to transfer $2.1 million to the Pima County Public Fiduciary on behalf of Rappeport's client, Cherie Van Dyke Adams.
An investigation revealed Rappeport obtained three powers of attorney for Adams over the last 10 years and was managing Adams' funds, said fudiciary Anita Royal.
Because Rappeport repeatedly refused to help the fiduciary account for Adams' funds, Royal said her office was able to obtain an emergency temporary conservatorship in February.
Over the next several months, Rappeport continued to ignore a judge's order to account for Adams' funds, Royal said.
During the hearing two weeks ago, Munger ordered Rappeport to transfer the house back into Adams' name and to transfer $2.1 million to the public fiduciary for Adams' care, Royal said.
Munger has referred the case to the Attorney General's Office for possible prosecution, Royal said.
Adams is living in an assisted- living facility, Royal said.
