Asbury Park lawyer indicted for allegedly ripping off clients

A suspended lawyer from Asbury Park was indicted on charges he failed to turn over $71,000 in settlements to his own clients, Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher Gramiccioni said.

William Gallagher, 70, who held an active state law license from 1968 until it was suspended last year, was indicted after a 19-month investigation revealed he kept clients' awards  on three different occasions in 2013 and 2014, authorities said. Gallagher allegedly transferred the money to himself after it was placed in his firm's attorney trust account.

Authorities began to investigate after a woman won $23,000 in a premises liability action but never received the money despite repeated requests to Gallagher, Gramiccioni said.

Gallagher was indicted on a charge of theft by failure to make required disposition and a charge of misapplication of entrusted funds. If convicted on both charges he faces up to 15 years in prison.

Full Article & Source:
Asbury Park lawyer indicted for allegedly ripping off clients