On Wednesday, February 25, 2026, the Colorado Supreme Court disbarred attorney David F. Ahrens from practicing law in Colorado, effective March 11, 2026. The decision, made by the Presiding Disciplinary Judge, follows an oral opinion and sanctions hearing related to violations of the Colorado Rules of Professional Conduct.
The case is entitled “In the Matter of David F. Ahrens,” with case number 25PDJ68.
Ahrens was found to have failed to diligently complete work in three client matters and abandoned client matters in two instances, violating RPC 1.3, which requires lawyers to act with reasonable diligence.
In four client matters, Ahrens ignored client requests for information, violating RPC 1.4(a)(4). He also failed to communicate the basis of his fee or the scope of representation in writing in one client matter, violating RPC 1.5(b). Additionally, he issued nonrefundable fee agreements in two client matters, violating RPC 1.5(g), and his flat-fee agreements lacked specific benchmarks for earning portions of the fee before concluding representation in three client matters, violating RPC 1.5(h).
Ahrens deposited clients’ funds into his operating account in all four client matters and treated the funds as earned before completing any useful work, violating RPC 1.15A(a), which requires lawyers to hold client property separately. Upon termination of representation in three client matters, he failed to return client files or unearned fees, violating RPC 1.16(d). Ahrens also knowingly failed to respond to the People’s requests for substantive information regarding three client matters, violating RPC 8.1(b), and converted client money by treating funds as earned without doing the work, the court found.
The Court has ordered Ahrens to pay restitution to Randal Long in the amount of $5,350.00, to Kathryn Porterfield in the amount of $4,750.00, and to Charlotte Ingold in the amount of $1,750.00, no later than Wednesday, April 1, 2026. He must also comply with C.R.C.P. 242.32(b)-(e) regarding winding up affairs and notifying clients.
According to Avvo, Mr. Ahrens was an elder law lawyer in Longmont, CO. He acquired his law license in Colorado in 2014.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
