Thursday, April 30, 2009

Lawyer Betrayed Client Trust

Nancy Clifton gave him more than $400,000 of her deceased husband’s life insurance settlement to invest. All of it was gone within three years.

M&D Construction bought a house from him in a foreclosure transaction, only to learn weeks later — and after spending thousands of dollars on renovations — that it already had been sold to someone else.

Eva Bauer sought his help in handling a disbursement from her deceased brother’s estate. Two years later, the money had vanished.

In story after story, those who turned to Kent Desselle for help or conducted business with him came away claiming huge losses that resulted in financial hardship. In the end, it was the $20,000 from a memorial fund for two murdered children that led to the downfall of the former Independence lawyer.

Desselle was disbarred by the Missouri Supreme Court. He was the subject of seven complaints filed last year, most of which accused him of mishandling clients’ money.

In its recommendation to disbar Desselle, the Disciplinary Hearing Panel issued a scathing statement: “Respondent has committed multiple offenses of taking his clients’ funds and using them for his own selfish motives and shown that he is dishonest.”

Full Article and Source:
Testimony shows disbarred lawyer repeatedly betrayed clients’ trust

8 comments:

  1. Another lawyer showing us what most lawyers are -- dishonest.

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  2. The theft in these cases is easier to prove than the theft in guardianship.

    The suffering of the victim is the same, thouogh. I do not mean to minimize the suffering these vicitms and families went through.

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  3. Desselle had to have been in operation for several years -- I wonder how many victims complained to deaf ears before something was finally done?

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  4. More and more of these stories are making media coverage and I'm glad. It's good to see the biggest thieves revealed.

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  5. It seems that anyone who has experience with lawyers has a bad lawyer experience story. Not on the scale of this guy's schemes.

    But, it's getting rare to hear a good lawyer story nowadays.

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  6. Kent Desselle is as low as scum can go. He is a thief, he belongs in a cage til he dies.

    How was Desselle able to go undetected for so long, get away with his schemes? Could other lawyers have known something stunk here?

    "In the end, it was the $20,000 from a memorial fund for two murdered children that led to the downfall of the former Independence lawyer."

    This tears at my heart, my God! scheming on a memorial fund for two murdered children?

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  8. Where is Kent Desselle now? Did he ever pay back money to the individuals? No! He is probably involved with other questionsible activities! The State of Missouri has ordered Desselle to pay back!!!
    And he has not repaid his debts. The state has not forced him to do
    anything!!!!!!

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