People v. Moore.
No. 25PDJ9. 4/1/2026. Stipulation to Discipline.
June 1, 2026
The Presiding Disciplinary Judge approved the parties’ stipulation to discipline and suspended Donald Moore (attorney registration number 23318) for nine months, with the requirement that he petition for reinstatement, if at all, by proving by clear and convincing evidence that he has been rehabilitated, has complied with all disciplinary orders and rules, and is fit to practice law. The suspension was effective on May 6, 2026.
In one matter, Moore neither informed his client about nor responded on his client’s behalf to a probate court order concerning a verified motion for an accounting that sought, among other relief, the client’s removal as personal representative and an award of attorney fees. Nor did Moore inform his client about or respond to a later court order to show cause. Further, Moore did not keep records reflecting how or when he earned the client’s retainer and did not inform his client how he earned fees, costs, or expenses. Once the probate court allowed Moore to withdraw from the case, the client twice requested an accounting, but Moore did not provide one.
In another matter, Moore failed to respond to his client’s requests for information, even though his client expressed concern via email that Moore had abandoned him. Moore did not give his client an invoice or accounting showing how he earned the client’s money, and he did not keep records showing when he withdrew his client’s funds from trust and when the funds were earned. In July 2024, the client fired Moore and requested a refund, but Moore did not return the client’s funds until March 2026.
In a third matter, Moore received a cash advance from his clients, but he did not place the cash in a trust account. Nor did Moore maintain adequate records concerning the clients’ funds. Further, Moore failed to communicate with his clients, who emailed him four times seeking information about their matter’s status. After Moore terminated the representation, he waited six months to return unearned funds to the clients.
In a fourth matter, Moore’s client sought appointment as personal representative of her deceased father’s estate. Moore failed to set a hearing in the probate matter and then responded to a show cause order with a status report requesting additional time to submit a substantive filing. He filed nothing thereafter and did not inform his client of the developments in the case. His client was not appointed personal representative of the estate. Moreover, Moore did not give his client an invoice or accounting, and he comingled in his trust account funds he earned in the matter with funds belonging to clients or third parties. Though the representation ended around December 2024, Moore did not return unearned funds to his client until February 2026.
Through this conduct, Moore violated Colo. RPC 1.3 (a lawyer must act with reasonable diligence and promptness when representing a client); Colo. RPC 1.4(a)(3) (a lawyer must keep a client reasonably informed about the status of the matter); Colo. RPC 1.4(a)(4) (a lawyer must promptly comply with reasonable requests for information); Colo. RPC 1.15A(a) (a lawyer must hold client property separate from the lawyer’s own property); Colo. RPC 1.15A(b) (a lawyer must promptly deliver to the client or third person any funds or property that person is entitled to receive); Colo. RPC 1.15D(a)(1)(A) (a lawyer must maintain an appropriate record-keeping system to track funds or other property held for others); and Colo. RPC 1.16(d) (a lawyer must protect a client’s interests upon termination of the representation, including by giving reasonable notice to the client).