A lawyer, who has claimed he is fighting to protect his longtime client's desire to leave the bulk of his estimated $50 million fortune to the poor children of Panama, has been smacked by a Palm Beach County judge.
Attorney Richard Lehman has been ordered to repay $1 million to the estate of Wilson Charles Lucom, an eccentric Palm Beach millionaire who moved to Panama in the last years of his life.
Calling Lehman a "covetous opportunist," Circuit Judge John Phillips said Lehman misused $655,000 that was part of Lucom's Florida estate to get his hands on tens of millions in Panama. In an 11-page ruling, Phillips ordered Lehman to repay the money along with the $390,000 that was spent tracking how the money was spent.
He also ordered Lehman to pay the fees of lawyers who represented Lucom's Panamanian widow and her children.
Lehman disputed Phillips' findings. "I never put a dollar in my pocket and I spent $1million of my own money defending the estate," said Lehman, vowing to appeal.
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Boca Raton lawyer ordered to repay $1 million to client's estate
Attorney Richard Lehman has been ordered to repay $1 million to the estate of Wilson Charles Lucom, an eccentric Palm Beach millionaire who moved to Panama in the last years of his life.
Calling Lehman a "covetous opportunist," Circuit Judge John Phillips said Lehman misused $655,000 that was part of Lucom's Florida estate to get his hands on tens of millions in Panama. In an 11-page ruling, Phillips ordered Lehman to repay the money along with the $390,000 that was spent tracking how the money was spent.
He also ordered Lehman to pay the fees of lawyers who represented Lucom's Panamanian widow and her children.
Lehman disputed Phillips' findings. "I never put a dollar in my pocket and I spent $1million of my own money defending the estate," said Lehman, vowing to appeal.
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Boca Raton lawyer ordered to repay $1 million to client's estate
Repaying the funds stolen is a step in the right direction. The IRS must investigate and prosecute for unpaid taxes on unreported income. The Attorney should be arrested and prosecuted for felony grand theft charges; exploitation of person(s) over the age of 60; and, oh gosh there are a host of criminal charges that should be levied upon this attorney. Similar to other licensed professionals, this attorney's license to practice should be restricted while investigations are in process.
ReplyDeleteHoorary for Judge Phillips!!!
ReplyDeleteInterestingly, there was a judge John Phillips in NYC who became a guardian victim.
Fortunately, the fiduciary perp was also ordered to repay.
This is a good way to start my day. Accountability finally catches up with one of them!
ReplyDeleteWhy did the Palm Beach Post report this story but never any of the evidence in my own case in Boca Raton? Is this just another case of the newspaper choosing to report just what the court approves while ignoring the prima facia evidence in cases like my own? Given the Florida court's role in the fraud which prevented me from even testifying in my own case, it is clear to me that no one can put too much faith in any story which the Palm Beach Post prints. To learn more about what I am talking about here, go to http://home.roadrunner.com/~tvfields/dir.htm
ReplyDeleteI cannot believe my eyes! Could this be true? I hope so, having hope that the system will have help to correct itself, step 1: the decision of Circuit Judge John Phillips.
ReplyDeleteThank you NASGA blog for publishing this information.
...fighting to replay his longtime client's desire.....
ReplyDeleteBaloney!
This is so sad and this lawyer must be punished.
ReplyDeleteHe should not only be ordered to repay but to pay resitution as well!
ReplyDeleteThen, he should be disbarred and sent to prison. If he's lucky enough to see daylight again, he should be forced to do community service for as long as he shall live.
We need harsh punishments, restitutuion, fines and prison as an example to other lawyers, agents of the courts, fiduciaries and those in guardianship positions.
ReplyDeleteNo mercy - Harsh Punishment - full restitution is an important weapon in this war.