Thursday, February 7, 2013

Escondido Attorney Agrees to be Disbarred

An atttorney in Escondido recently admitted to stealing $275,000 from an elderly client's inheritance and has agreed to be disbarred.

Sydney Claire Kirkland drained all but $10,000 from a trust account that an 80-year-old client set up. That client put the money in a client trust account with Kirkland, who had previously done legal work for him. In June 2011, the county's adult protective services got a complaint from a bank manager and intervened. When APS questioned Kirkland, she lied to the agency. In addition to being disbarred, Sydney Claire Kirkland faces criminal charges of grand theft and stealing from an elderly adult. Kirkland became ineligible to practice law on January 19.

Full Article & Source:
Escondido Attorney Agrees to be Disbarred

6 comments:

Thelma said...

Maybe applicants for the Bar should have psych clearances first; it would save everyone a lot of money!

StandUp said...

He agrees to be disbarred? I don't get that. Why does he even had the choice?

Luis said...

To avoid a hearing.

Sue said...

Too bad,I would rather see this lawyer have a hearing and face his accusers. Anyone think Sydney Claire Kirkland might have engaged in other financial crimes? Or is this the first time? Highly unlikely.

Anonymous said...

First of all, the attorney is female. I know her and she is not a nice person. Criminal trial underway in superior court. She deserves jail time.

Anonymous said...

No, she is not a nice person. And she received a remarkably short sentence -- 18 months of "jail" time and 18 months of probation -- for defrauding an elder out of $275,000! Non-violent offenders get out of jail quickly. She could be out for Christmas.