Vast Understanding Of Fraud And Forgery Attorney Issues
Legal malpractice is a black eye to every lawyer, not just the attorneys who fall short of or deliberately violate professional conduct standards. At Ney Rhein, LLC, we help not only Georgia clients, but also the legal industry as a whole. Our firm focuses solely on legal malpractice. Simply put, we sue lawyers and provide a necessary service to our peers.
Holding Attorneys Accountable For Fraud And Forgery
In addition to cases in which an attorney has committed malpractice as a result of professional negligence, Ney Rhein, LLC has handled numerous cases involving intentional misconduct by attorneys. These cases include actions in which attorneys have forged documents and signatures, defrauded clients, stolen client funds, and lied to clients regarding the status of their case. These are among the most complex cases to handle and often involve claims for punitive damages. Making a misrepresentation to a client that an attorney knows is false is a clear breach of an attorney’s duty to a client. Failing to disclose or conceal information from a client shatters any bond of trust in the attorney-client relationship. Covering up acts of dishonesty may serve as an additional act of legal malpractice.
Acts of fraud and forgery often compound the initial attorney malpractice, and may cause substantial additional damages to the client.
What Constitutes Legal Fraud And Forgery?
Lawyers hold a duty of trust, yet dishonest attorneys betray clients through deliberate deceit. When an attorney manipulates records, misuses funds or fabricates documents, they commit serious violations that cause severe financial harm. For instance:
- Forged signatures: Attorneys forge client signatures on settlement release forms to finalize cases without knowledge or consent.
- Unauthorized check endorsement: Dishonest lawyers endorse client settlement checks without permission to deposit the money directly into personal accounts.
- Interest on Lawyers’ Trust Accounts (IOLTA) escrow conversion: Attorneys steal money from client trust accounts where they must hold funds safely until case resolution.
- Deceptive fee padding: Law firms pad billing statements with fake hours or inflated costs to charge for unperformed work.
- Fraudulent concealment: Lawyers conceal case dismissals by lying about progress after courts throw out claims due to missed deadlines.
These deceptive actions inflict severe financial hardship and derail valid legal claims. Spotting these red flags may help victims hold attorneys accountable.
Establishing A Valid Legal Malpractice Claim
To file a valid legal malpractice lawsuit, victims must prove specific legal elements in court. They must show that the attorney intentionally made a false statement, intended to deceive the client and directly caused actual financial loss.
Once victims establish a valid claim, they can demand full compensation for lost funds. In fact, under Georgia statute O.C.G.A. § 51-12-5.1, courts can award punitive damages when an attorney acts with malice or conscious indifference. It is awarded to penalize extreme misconduct and deter corruption across the legal field.
Clients must also understand that a civil lawsuit operates completely separate from State Bar of Georgia disciplinary reviews. While the State Bar investigates ethics complaints and can suspend or revoke a lawyer’s license, that agency cannot award money to victims. Filing a civil malpractice lawsuit in court serves as the only path for victims to recover stolen funds.
Take Action And Contact Us Today
Schedule a free initial consultation with our Atlanta-area firm by calling 404-963-9519. You can also contact us online. All consultations remain entirely confidential.