Oh Shenandoah
The web page of the Virginia State Bar reports on a recent license revocation but does not link to any document that provides the factual basis of the order
Ordered and effective October 25, 2024, the Circuit Court for Shenandoah County revoked Bradley Glenn Pollack’s license to practice law in the Commonwealth of Virginia for violating professional rules that govern candor toward the tribunal, truthfulness in statements to others, and misconduct.
The attorney had agreed to a nine-month suspension in May 2024 for misconduct in connection with an appeal.
WHSV 3 reported on an earlier suspension and noted the sanction had been stayed pending appeal
A member of the Shenandoah County Board of Supervisors has had his law license suspended by the Virginia State Bar.
Brad Pollack will be suspended from practicing law for six months beginning at the end of July. The suspension stems from the mishandling of payments from several clients.
WHSV spoke with Pollack about the situation on Wednesday.
It was a set amount of money and the mistake was I was supposed to park it in my trust account before shifting it to my operating account. Instead, I deposited it directly in my operating account which is a violation of the rules of professional conduct and I immediately acknowledged that,” said Pollack.
Pollack told a bar investigator about the handling of the funds after three clients filed complaints against him that were unrelated to the money. During Pollack’s Bar hearing at the end of last week, the Bar found the complaints themselves were unfounded.
“The whole reason the people complained, there was no misconduct there. The only thing I’m being held accountable for is what I volunteered,” said Pollack.
Pollack acknowledged that he made a mistake with the funds and said he never intended to do anything nefarious.
“It was basically a boneheaded move it was just stupid. But nobody was injured, nobody was hurt and again the underlying complaints were unfounded. So it’s just kind of, it is what it is,” he said.
Pollack believes part of the reason he received a suspension is because of previous trouble he had with the Bar.
“Twenty years ago the Bar came after me for standing up for a couple of mentally disabled brothers who were swindled out of their farm in the southern end of the county. So that resulted in some discipline back then, so because that was on my record, is why I’m pretty sure I got suspension time this year,” he said.
During his suspension, Pollack said he’ll use the time to focus on his supervisor role and work on various election campaigns across the county. He said that there are 13 elected office positions up for election in Shenandoah County in 2023 including his seat on the Board of Supervisors.
“I’ve always been known to turn lemons into lemonade and I certainly expect to in this situation. And I’m here to of course help my constituents through the process,” said Pollack. “I’m here to continue to serve. I’ve been standing up for people, particularly the little guy, and I’ll continue to do that through this sabbatical.”
Pollack’s six-month suspension will take effect on July 30.
The Virginia Supreme Court affirmed the sanction.
From the Daily News-Record in March 2024
A member of the Shenandoah County Board of Supervisors stands accused of using a computer to invade someone’s privacy.
Staunton police issued a summons to Supervisor Bradley Pollack on Sept. 8 to appear in Staunton General District Court on a charge of computer invasion of privacy, a class 1 misdemeanor.
Pollack, an attorney based in Woodstock, represents District 3 on the Board of Supervisors.
Pollack’s charge was filed initially in the Staunton General District Court. A judge on Sept. 28 ordered the case transferred to Augusta County General District Court. An online database did not list Pollack’s case in Augusta County General District as of Thursday.
Fishersville resident Michael Donovan states in a criminal complaint dated Aug. 19 and filed in the Staunton General District that David Briggman used Pollack’s log-in credentials for Officer of the Court Remote Access on June 30 to retrieve a letter of opinion in the case of Commonwealth v. Richard Moore. A judge had marked the document sealed, the complaint states. Briggman then distributed the letter of opinion via Facebook, the complaint states.
“The OCRA log-in screen states ‘this system is intended solely for the use of authorized officers of the court personnel to retrieve and review court documents they are specifically authorized to view,’” the complaint states. “Pollack is not associated with this case and has no authorization to access OCRA’s database on the case, especially for sealed records.
“Pollack permitted Briggman’s use of his login info in violation of law, and Briggman used it to harm my family,” Donovan states in the complaint.
A summons also was issued to Briggman to appear in the Staunton court on the same charge of computer invasion of privacy. The judge also ordered Briggman’s charge transferred to the Augusta County court.
Reached by phone, Pollack commented on Donovan’s accusations.
“It’s as nonsensical as is claims against my client, Dog the Bounty Hunter,” Pollack said.
Note: Dog the Bounty Hunter recorded this endorsement of him; BBC had details about the litigation.
Pollack defended Duane Chapman, a television personality also known as Dog the Bounty Hunter, in a federal lawsuit filed last November in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia. Donovan, Moore and Zachary Cruz filed the lawsuit against Chapman, Briggman, Lyssa Chapman, Lindsay Combs and Jane Collins. A federal judge dismissed the suit on June 7.
Augusta County authorities arrested Donovan and Moore on Sept. 26 after a grand jury indicted the men on charges of obtaining money by fraud and exploiting a mentally incapacitated person. Authorities accuse Donovan and Moore of exploiting Zachary Cruz, brother of Nikolas Cruz, the man convicted in the Feb. 14, 2018, mass shooting of 17 people at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida. Online media reports have said Donovan and Moore offered to let Zachary Cruz move in with them in their Augusta County home.
Pollack also stands charged in Shenandoah County General District Court with two misdemeanor charges of destruction of property and faces a trial set for Oct. 28. Authorities accuse Pollack of removing real estate signs from properties in Edinburg on Sept. 13 and 14, 2021.
The Northern Virginia Daily had a 2023 story noting that misdemeanor charges against him were dismissed
The Sheriff’s Office charged Pollack, 62, of Jillian Court, Edinburg, with two misdemeanor counts of destruction of property for damaging real estate signs belonging to Holler Realty in mid-September 2021. Pollack appeared in court on a summons on Oct. 22, 2021.
The Sheriff’s Office accused Pollack of removing real estate signs from the area of Jennifer Court and Main Street in Edinburg on the nights of Sept. 13 and 14, 2021. A camera placed near the signs photographed Pollack removing a sign on Sept. 13, according to a criminal complaint. Investigator H. Painter saw on the next day Pollack removing a sign, a second complaint states. Both signs were found damaged in a nearby retention ditch.
Disposition
Substitute Judge Ryan said at the end of the hearing that he found the facts sufficient to find Pollack guilty on the two counts. Nuzzo deferred disposition of each charge to Friday and said that the court would dismiss the charges if Pollack remains on good behavior, pays restitution to the victim and completes community service within the 12-month period. Nuzzo also ordered Pollack to not remove any signs or property owned by Holler Realty.
(Mike Frisch)