Memphis lawyer convicted of thieving $150,000 from consumer
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A Memphis attorney has been convicted of thieving the thousands of bucks his client was awarded in a settlement, the Shelby County District Attorney’s Office claims.
According to the Shelby County District Attorney’s Place of work, Paul Springer stole a $150,000 check out from a girl he represented in 2014 civil situation. He was convicted of theft of assets in excess of $60,000 Thursday.
The DA’s office claims Springer represented a girl in a wrongful termination go well with in opposition to the City of Memphis. The case settled with the Metropolis of Memphis agreeing to shell out the lady $150,000.
The DA’s business office claims Springer’s fee was just one-3rd of the settlement. The lady was intended to stop up with $90,000 soon after deducting litigation costs from her share.
Springer is stated to have picked up the test from the Town Attorney’s Business office in March 2014, but the DA’s business suggests he never ever told his customer. He held the comprehensive volume for himself.
The DA’s office environment suggests the girl been given a payment from the Tennessee Lawyers Fund for Shopper Safety. That fund is reportedly financed by annual registration expenses from lawyers who are certified to practice in Tennessee.
According to the DA’s office, if the decide orders restitution and Springer pays it, the female ought to return the money she acquired from the customer safeguard fund.
Springer was completely disbarred in 2018 by the Tennessee Board of Skilled Responsibility. He was licensed in 2001.
Springer will be sentenced in June.
The DA’s business states Springer is even now going through theft rates that contain yet another customer.
In accordance to courtroom documents, a lady hired Springer to characterize her in a civil circumstance as perfectly as a prison situation in Could of 2012. She signed a Deal for Solutions with Springer for $10,000. She paid him $5,200 and had a equilibrium of $4,800 still left.
Four many years later, in June of 2016, she gained a settlement check for $123,950 from Springer’s regulation firm. The verify was from a settlement in the civil case and the overall quantity was intended to be $185,000. Court documents say $61,050 experienced been withheld.
The female reportedly advised investigator she did not agree to a settlement in her civil circumstance and that she was advised both equally of her instances would be managed. She also explained to investigators she did not sign a contract spending Springer a contingency or retainer charge.
The lady received copies of the Contract of Solutions and the contingency contract. According to courtroom files, the lady reiterated that she did not signal the contingency deal and said her signature had been cast.
Court files say the female hired two forensic doc examiners to evaluation the two files. The examiners decided the signature on the contingency agreement had originated from the signature on the Contract for Companies.
Courtroom documents say $180,200 was stolen because of to the alleged forgery, which include the stability $4,800 the lady owed Springer.
Springer was billed with forgery in the amount of $60,000-$250,000 and theft of residence worth $10,000-$60,000.
