What It Was Was A Football
The Texas Lawyer reports on an attorney discipline case
The Texas Board of Disciplinary Appeals on July 24 heard arguments about disbarring an attorney who defrauded an insurer by making false claims that a 1977 Superbowl football signed by the Dallas Cowboys and other sports memorabilia were lost or destroyed.
The Commission for Lawyer Discipline said that Rockwall attorney Robert Glen Vernon Jr. was indicted on Nov. 13, 2013, for insurance fraud between $20,000 and $100,000. He pleaded guilty to the charge, a third-degree felony, in a plea agreement on April 6, 2015, and received seven years of community supervision, a $2,000 fine and $239 in court costs, according to the petition for compulsory discipline in In The Matter of Robert Glen Vernon Jr.
The commission said that Vernon’s offense was an intentional and serious crime under the Texas Rules of Disciplinary Procedure, and that he should be disbarred.
The indictment in Vernon’s underlying case, which was attached to the petition, said that between Oct. 25, 2010, and June 27, 2012, Vernon intended to defraud or deceive an insurance company when he made a claim under a policy. He presented a false and misleading statement that certain property was lost or destroyed. Among other things, the property included sports memorabilia like the signed football, and helmets and jerseys that were signed by Tony Romo and other athletes.
The plea agreement in Vernon’s criminal case, also attached to the disciplinary petition, said he would have to return all of the property in the indictment to the insurance company.
Texas Lawyer could not contact Vernon because two phone numbers for him were disconnected. Vernon never entered an answer in the compulsory discipline case.
Dallas solo Joe Padian, who represented Vernon in the underlying criminal case, didn’t immediately return a call seeking comment. Neither did Claire Mock, a spokeswoman with the State Bar of Texas Office of Chief Disciplinary Counsel, which represents the Commission for Lawyer Discipline.
Apologies to the late great Andy Griffith. (Mike Frisch)