People v. Michael A. Valenti. 16PDJ056. July 18, 2016. The Presiding Disciplinary Judge suspended Michael A. Valenti (attorney registration number 48216) for thirty days, all stayed upon successful completion of a one-year period of probation, with conditions as imposed by the Supreme Court of Kentucky. The probation took effect July 18, 2016.
The Supreme Court of Kentucky sanctioned Valenti for commingling personal funds with client funds in his firm’s escrow account. Valenti thus violated Kentucky Supreme Court Rule 3.130-1.15(a) (a lawyer shall hold property of clients of third persons separate from the lawyer’s own property).
The Office of Attorney Regulation Counsel sought the same discipline as that imposed by the Supreme Court of Kentucky. Valenti’s misconduct in Kentucky constitutes grounds for the imposition of reciprocal discipline in Colorado under C.R.C.P. 251.21(e).