Columbia attorney disbarred for client trust account misuse

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- The Missouri Supreme Court has disbarred a Columbia lawyer accused of misusing client trust accounts.

The Columbia Daily Tribune reported Michael Blum was disbarred Tuesday and fined $2,000. Blum was found to have violated rules for attorney conduct 17 times, including 14 violations of misusing trust accounts at the firm Blum and Ray.

Money is placed into trust accounts in advance of services and is meant to be withdrawn as the firm works for a client.

Complaints state Blum didn't file petitions for clients in bankruptcy cases, and he improperly used money for operating expenses for the firm as well as personal expenses.

Blum has said when he joined the law firm, the other lawyer hadn't transferred $60,000 to the firm's trust account that should've been there, and those circumstances led to Blum's activities.

Information from: Columbia Daily Tribune, http://www.columbiatribune.com