What Price Justice?

How much did a gambling addicted in-house attorney siphon from his employer, a New Jersey home builder? $1.37 million. How did he do it? The attorney canceled contracts for real estate purchases, recovered deposits from the escrow companies, and then gambled away the funds. That wasn’t the only house-related damage from his gambling addiction. He refinanced his home in 2007 without telling his wife (although title to the home was in her name). He’ll be in the Big House for the next seven years. Maybe he should have argued he was on Mirapex? Or at least tried this strategy.

A Memphis estate lawyer, apparently dissatisfied with his hourly compensation, dipped into several estate funds and ripped off his law firm, as well. The take: a few million in cash and some artwork.

How did the scheme work? First, the attorney assures the family there’s “nothing to worry about.” Second, he siphons money from client’s accounts, trusts and estates. Third, he diverts attorney’s fees from the law firm’s general fund and escrow account. Fourth, he has fun, pays off personal credit card debts, and purchases lots of artwork.

How much can you make? This attorney drained one estate of at least 1.5 million and reportedly embezzled lots more from at least 11 other clients.

Mitigating factors? The attorney’s on-the-stand explanation of the events—“I was a bad actor.” Wait … if he scammed over 1.5 million as an attorney, doesn’t that make him a great actor?