Is this ethical behavior for a lawyer?

Question

Let me try to make this easy as possible.

Mr Slick (ATTORNEY) is representing, George, who is going through a divorce. George is best friends with SAM (or should I say - partners in crime). George is 7500. behind in child support payments. Judge orders him to sell the community home and proceeds of sale of home are awarded to wife to pay arrearage.

George and Sam come up with a great scheme so wife cant get her hands on the money. Sam hires, Mr Slick (!remember same att. who reps George in his divorce) who files a lawsuit against George claiming that George owed him 8900. plus interest which ends up totaling 17K - which is what the equity in home was! How clever!

Sam wins lawsuit. George never shows in court. A judgement is issued. A lien is placed on mortgage. House sells and guess who is awarded money. None other that Sam, Georges BEST friend. who then in turn gives it to George. Wife got 0. Plan accomplished

Opinions?

Answer 1

This would be an egregious violation of conflict of interest rules, as well as rules concerning fraud upon the court, possibly candor to a tribunal, and fraud in general.

If there is proof of these dealings, a complaint should be filed with the State bar association detailing the information. Give as much evidence as is available. The wife should ask her attorney to look into the matter and contact the court. The lawsuit was a fraud, and not only is it a serious violation to file the lawsuit, the lawsuit by Sam should be set aside.

There may be some criminal charges involved as well, but that is a decision left to the local prosecutor. Either way, a complaint to the state bar association is definitely in order.

Answer 2

Of course it is. He did the best thing he could for HIS client. That's his job. What happenes to the wife is not supposed to be any of his concern. In fact if he did give ANY consideration to the wife he would THEN have an ethical proble. Sounds like the wife got screwed. Of course George still owes her the money but she'll have to go through everything all over again to get it and by that time the lawyers will have taken it all anyway.

Answer 3

Don't know how it works in the US, but in France, a lawyer who worked with a client in one case, and against in another, especially for somebody who is common acquaintance, could rate a disbarment if he went through the scheme.

Of course, nothing prevents George and sam to go through the scheme with Sam using another lawyer, and George retaining mr Slick and instructing him to let Sam win.

Answer 4

you gotta love mr.slick...mr slick can't be sams lawyer because he is george's lawyer conflict of interest....but we are talking about courts and government so maybe it is allowed but you have to take it too it's obvious conclusion and sam and george are being set up by mr slick.......2500 fee to represent george!!!!! 5500 fee to represent sam.......5000 fee to quickly settle sams criminal charge. 1 year in jail and the felony charge of usury is knocked down to a misdomenor...by law in every state sam must pay george the $8100 in illegal interest but sam only has 4 grand. mr slick gets 1 more grand from wife for getting the cash sam paid george. mr slick gets a grand from george because sam had money and still owes george $4100...mr slick gets another grand from wife because sam paid george. let us now assume wife got real good at spotting a good and wealthy man and got remarried. george is still the same genius and the best he can do is welfare so he no longer owes child support...the final tally is this......the lawyer collects $16,000 in legal fees. wife got 5100 .... she agreed to 2000 in legal fees and is only out 400 bucks....sam's out $4,100. of the $17,000 of equity in the house the wife should have gotten $16,000.......george keeps a grand sam doesn't lose forty-one hundred . he could have worked for a year instead of a year in jail.....and one final bill to the taxpayers : thirty-five thousand dollars to feed and house sam for a year!!!!

Answer 5

I think you should contact the county bar association and ask if the attorney committed an ethics violation.
You can consider hiring another attorney and sue the three men for fraud and conspiracy, if you can prove it.
Further, if you have proof beyond a reasonable doubt, you can ask the District Attorney to file criminal fraud charges against the three.
The key is that you have to prove your allegations.

Answer 6

What? and the wife isn't trying to snake the money also....they are all immoral so who cares....

However,
You fail to mention that if the wives attny is any good and and judge is shown this then the 2 idiots will go to prison for purgery/fraud and the wife will end up with the money....

Answer 7

Gotta love them attorneys! Ever notice that with certain inflection, the words "lawyer" and "liar" sound remarkably similar?

The wronged person ought to file a complaint with the bar association or licensing board for attorneys in that state, seriously.

Answer 8

it rather is ethical to record the healthful because of the fact it rather is grounded in fact. in case you prefer to shield because wagering is unlawful and the courts shouldn't enforce it, it is your duty. in case you prefer to declare that there became into no wager considering the fact which you hadn't agreed on each and every of the words of the wager, it is likewise as much as you. even nonetheless, there is not something incorrect in submitted disputes to the courtroom and allowing the courtroom to be certain on them. BTW, i don't think you.

Answer 9

shouldn't be so hard to prove the fraud scheme. as there were probably no records to produce in court. so court record will show that..and the planned no show. esp get witness es show the two together after..and transfer of monies may be easily shown if were cocky and deposited inthe bank.esp if had to use it for house payments etc..
the DA would likely love that one.

Answer 10

You put the words ethical and lawyer in the same sentence. Funny.