Court suspends LV attorney

The Nevada Supreme Court has temporarily suspended Las Vegas attorney Philip Singer, who is accused of misappropriating client funds and accepting retainers without performing any services.

"We conclude that the documentation before us demonstrates that Singer poses a substantial threat of serious harm to the public, and that his immediate temporary suspension is warranted," the court's order states. "We further conclude that Singer's handling of funds should be restricted."

The order, filed Nov. 24, suspends Singer from the practice of law "pending the resolution of formal disciplinary proceedings against him."

David Clark, deputy bar counsel for the State Bar of Nevada, said a formal hearing has been scheduled for March 26 and 27 to address 21 grievances that have been filed against Singer.

Singer obtained his law license in Nevada in October 2001.

A woman who answered the phone Friday at Singer's law office said he was not available and "won't be available until probably March." She said someone else had taken over his business.

Singer's lawyer, William Terry, declined to comment.

According to the order of suspension, "Singer appears to have misappropriated funds from clients and third-party lienholders, accepted and cashed retainer checks without performing any services, and commingled client and personal funds."

In a petition seeking Singer's temporary suspension, the State Bar of Nevada outlined "a pattern of failing to safekeep trust account monies and refusing to respond to the State Bar." The bar attributed Singer's lack of response to his "flippant attitude."

According to the petition, an audit of Singer's trust account revealed "that there were many settlements deposited in which the complete amount was not distributed."

"The State Bar is still compiling these totals and the names of the settlements," the document states. "This has proven to be difficult given that (Singer) is no longer cooperating with the State Bar."

According to the petition, two civil judgments have been entered against Singer during the past two years. One involved unpaid advertising and the other unpaid office rent.

"Since (Singer) admits that he uses his trust account for personal use, thereby commingling personal funds, he has exposed his trust account to civil liability allowing his trust account to be garnished," the petition states.

Singer handled divorce, personal injury and criminal cases. He represented Nicolas Serrano-Villagrana, the drunken driver whose pickup plowed through a bus stop in 2004, killing a 4-year-old boy.

Serrano-Villagrana, an illegal immigrant, claimed someone else was driving the truck when the crash occurred on Eastern Avenue, near U.S. Highway 95. The defendant was convicted in 2005 and later received a prison sentence of 12 to 40 years.

Contact reporter Carri Geer Thevenot at cgeer@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-8135.