First Trial A $3.5 Million Win, Attorney Disbarred For Misappropriation Of Judgment Proceeds

An attorney who was unable to find work as a lawyer went to work for Net Access doing legal research.

Despite his lack of litigation experience, he undertook a complex litigation in the New York courts and tried the case, securing a $3.5 million judgment on behalf of his clients. Thereafter, the good news turned bad.

The New Jersey Supreme Court agreed with the majority of the Disciplinary Review Board that the attorney had knowingly misappropriated funds from the judgment.

The attorney was disbarred for taking $1.2 million at a time when his fee was in dispute.

One board member would have imposed a three-month suspension; two favored a suspension of one year. (Mike Frisch)