Monday, July 17, 2017

Attorney Facing Criminal Charges For Allegedly Failing To Return $217K To Client After Real Estate Transaction Fell Through Has Law License Suspended Pending Further Probe

In New Britain, Connecticut, The Connecticut Law Tribune reports:
  • A former Hartford attorney who is facing criminal larceny charges for allegedly defrauding several clients—including one for more than $200,000—has been placed on interim suspension from the practice of law until further notice.

    New Britain Superior Court Judge Joan K. Alexander placed Wayne Anthony Francis, 46, on interim suspension May 30. Alexander also set the attorney's bond at $2 million, although Francis could be released by paying 10 percent of that amount, or $200,000 in cash.

    According to the monthly list of disciplined attorneys recently released for May by the Office of Chief Disciplinary Counsel, Francis is believed to have stolen $217,630 from one client and of have taken thousands of dollars from several other clients.

    According to a May 2 application for interim suspension, submitted by the Office of Chief Disciplinary Counsel, client Shaikh Rakaiyabanu filed one of several complaints against Francis, claiming he stole two checks from her totaling $217,630.

    The submitted application says Rakaiyabanu hired Francis to represent her in a real estate purchase of property in Rocky Hill. Rakaiyabanu alleges the closing did not go forward and further alleges she requested the monies be "returned to her on multiple occasions." Francis, though, the application states, never returned the money he was holding for his client.(1)
For more, see Attorney Suspended for Stealing Hundreds of Thousands From Clients.
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(1) For "attorney ripoff reimbursement funds" that sometimes help cover the losses created by the dishonest conduct of lawyers licensed in the United States and Canada, see:
Maps available courtesy of The National Client Protection Organization, Inc.

posted by Home Equity Theft Reporter at 4:00 AM