Fed-Up Judge Refuses Further Trial Delays For Ex-Closing Attorney Accused Of Ripping Off Real Estate Escrow Funds In 4-Year Old Case

In Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the Pittsburgh Tribune Review reports:

• The only way a former Fayette County attorney accused of stealing about $99,000 in mortgage-settlement claims from two elderly couples can avoid going to trial on Jan. 3 is if he is hospitalized, according to the trial judge.

• Judge Steve Leskinen [] told Mark Morrison's attorney that if Morrison fails to appear for trial in the four-year-old criminal case, a bench warrant will be issued for his arrest unless Morrison is "confined to a hospital." Morrison, 53, of Hopwood was charged in 2006 with two counts each of theft by failure to make required disposition of funds, forgery, tampering with records or identification, and misapplication of entrusted property. The state Attorney General's Office alleges Morrison failed to use the money to settle outstanding mortgages on two properties.

• Citing numerous health problems and questions over competency, Morrison has successfully petitioned the courts to postpone his trial. The case was put back on the trial list [...] when Leskinen, after a 4 1/2-hour long hearing in November, declared Morrison competent for trial.

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• "This case has been pending for four years," Leskinen said. "It needs to be resolved."

For the story, see Enough delays, exclaims judge in alleged mortgage scam case.

For a couple of follow-up stories, see

• Ex-lawyer from Hopwood gets one more day to appear in court ("A Fayette County judge yesterday said he was unconvinced a former attorney couldn't secure an ambulance ride to the courthouse in time for the start of his trial yesterday on theft charges, but he gave the Hopwood man another day to appear."),

• Broker: Lawyer withheld payment ("A former Fayette County attorney's reputation persuaded a mortgage broker to let him represent two clients at closings, according to a former loan officer who testified Tuesday in the Hopwood man's theft case.").