People v. Johnson.

No. 26PDJ26. 9/30/2026. Opinion Approving Amended Stipulation.

November 12, 2026

The Presiding Disciplinary Judge approved an amended stipulation to discipline and suspended Cornell Johnson (attorney registration number 34449) for three months, with the requirement that Johnson seek formal reinstatement. The three-month suspension is to run concurrently with a three-year suspension Johnson is currently serving. The three-month suspension was effective immediately.

While representing a client who sustained injuries in a vehicular accident, Johnson successfully settled with several insurance companies on the client’s behalf for policy limits. Johnson then wound down his law practice and closed his trust account. During that time, Johnson’s staff disbursed to the client a sum significantly less than the client was owed from the settlement. As a result, Johnson withdrew money belonging to the client when he closed his trust account. When Johnson learned of the error, he promptly returned to the client the additional amount owed from the settlement.

Through this misconduct, Johnson violated Colo. RPC 1.15A(a) (requiring a lawyer to hold property of clients or third persons in the lawyer’s possession in connection with a representation separate from the lawyer’s own property) and Colo. RPC 1.15A(b) (requiring a lawyer to promptly deliver funds belonging to a client or third person any funds the client or third person is entitled to receive and to render a full accounting regarding that property).