Florida Attorney Gives Up License In Multi Million $ Escrow Scandal

On Florida's Treasure Coast, TC Palm reports:

• Ira C. Hatch, whose escrow and title businesses are under civil and criminal investigation, agreed Monday to give up his law license for 10 years, the Florida Bar said. “We’ve received the signed disbarment by consent,” said John Stewart, an attorney with Stewart & Evans of Vero Beach, which represents the Bar on the Treasure Coast. “This obviously recognizes how serious the charges are that have been levied against him.” The Bar is investigating charges Hatch misspent $200,000 of client funds on deposit in a Hatch & Doty trust account between July 1 and Aug. 31.

In addition, the story refers to the hot water Hatch is in regarding the escrow company he owns:

• Hatch shut down Coastal Escrow Services last week, leaving real estate agents, businesses and consumers without their deposits on real estate transactions and property leases. The state attorney general’s office in Indian River County has estimated more than $3 million is not available to customers. Treasure Coast law enforcement officials said Monday it could be months before they file charges in their investigation of Coastal Escrow. On Friday, Vero Beach law officers searched the offices of Coastal Escrow and seized documents and computers.

A local payroll firm has also complained to cops, alleging that Hatch stiffed them with $25,000 of rubber checks, funds from which were intended to pay employees and the taxes and worker compensation payments. For more, see Florida Bar: Hatch voluntarily disbarred.

See also, Hatch gave up license in FL but still able to practice law in NY.

Go here for other posts and links to stories on this ongoing investigation.

Go here for stories on other alleged escrow agent mishandling of funds. sneaky slick escrow agents alpha