Attorney suspended after admitting to misappropriating funds

The Nevada Supreme Court has ordered the temporary suspension of Las Vegas attorney Marina Kolias.

According to the July 24 order, documentation demonstrates that Kolias “has failed to safekeep funds in numerous instances” and “poses a substantial threat of serious harm to the public.”

Kolias, who has been licensed in Nevada since 1997, is suspended from practicing law pending the resolution of formal disciplinary proceedings against her.

She is precluded from representing existing clients or accepting new cases.

According to a joint petition for temporary suspension, filed by the State Bar of Nevada and Kolias in March, the attorney admitted she misappropriated money from her client trust fund.

For at least five years, according to the document, Kolias “failed to appropriately safeguard funds belonging to her clients or other third parties in her trust account, by misappropriating the funds for her own use, and by using funds belonging to one client to pay another on an ongoing basis.”

The allegations against Kolias focus on settlements obtained in personal injury cases.

“The final amount alleged to have been misappropriated has not been determined,” said Phil Pattee, assistant bar counsel.

He said the bar received another complaint regarding Kolias on Monday “and will be investigating that forthwith.”

According to the order of suspension, all proceeds from Kolias’ practice of law and all funds received from or on behalf of clients shall be deposited into a trust account from which Kolias cannot make withdrawals.

Also, the order prohibits Kolias from withdrawing funds from any accounts related to her law practice, including her general and trust accounts.

Contact reporter Carri Geer Thevenot at cgeer@reviewjournal.com or 702-384-8710.