Friday, July 26, 2019

Lawyer Robert Menard charged with stealing more than $700,000 from clients, ex-partner and uncle

Attorney Robert Menard appearing for a deposition in March 2018. The deposition was taken as part of a lawsuit involving Menard's former law partner. A transcript of the deposition is on file with the Milwaukee County Clerk of Courts. (Photo: Milwaukee County Clerk's office, )
Well-known lawyer Robert Menard was jailed Monday on charges of stealing at least $700,000 from his ex-law partner, clients and his uncle, according to a 14-felony count criminal complaint.

The 43-page complaint by the Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office lays out elaborate schemes by Menard, 56, to steal the law firm he had operated with longtime partner Alan Derzon, embezzle Derzon's retirement account, pocket the proceeds of a $500,000 insurance settlement won by his 70-year old uncle and then use his uncle's money to pay off other clients he had ripped off. 

His uncle's money was also used for personal and business expenses such as paying his children's tuition at Boston College and Drake University, the complaints charges. 

The uncle, Philip Menard, sued Robert Menard  — a lawyer who brags he represents the "average Joe" — last year and the case was settled for an undisclosed amount in April. 

"Attorney Robert Menard has, for many years, engaged in an extensive pattern of theft and fraud through his law practice," Kurt Benkley, an assistant district attorney, charged in the complaint. Benkley wrote that Menard "routinely stole from clients in a 'rob Peter to pay Paul' pattern of theft."

The prosecutor explained that instead of placing settlement checks for clients in a segregated account, he put the funds "directly into his law firm business account, spent the proceeds for his own benefit until the account fell below a zero balance and then many months later paid old clients with new clients' insurance settlement funds."

The complaint charges Menard with nine counts of embezzlement, four forgery counts and one count of misconduct in public office.

The charges are the latest in a long line of trouble for Menard, who is also facing a disbarment action filed by the Office of Lawyer Regulation. The office, which is the policing arm of the state Supreme Court, charged Menard with 31 counts of misconduct, including improperly using client cash to cover office and personal expenses. 

A hearing is scheduled for next month and the high court will ultimately decide the matter later. 

Despite the disbarment complaint, Benkley alleged Menard's illegal activities continued.

"Bank records show that, despite the pending OLR complaint, defendant Menard has continued to steal client funds," the complaint states. "Defendant Menard deposited insurance settlement checks and spent the proceeds without paying clients." 

In 2017, Derzon, his partner of 25 years, sued Menard charging he stole the downtown law firm that specialized in worker's compensation claims from Derzon. At the time, each man had a 50% interest in the firm. The suit also charged that Menard had stolen Derzon's retirement fund.

The lawsuit is pending, though the claim that Menard took the law firm and Derzon's retirement funds are cornerstones of the criminal complaint.

"Menard converted virtually the entire assets of Derzon & Menard to the benefit of Menard & Menard," the criminal complaint states, referring to the Menard-owned firm that set up shop in the same spot as the predecessor and kept all of the supplies and assorted assets of Derzon & Menard.

Even the extensive collection of sports memorabilia were kept by Menard's new firm as was the fictional "Joe Bob," who was used to promotes the law firms as the lawyers who represent the "average Joe." Joe Bob became Menard & Menard's mascot.

Joe Bob, a cartoon character who had been used to advertise the Derzon & Menard law firm, can now be found on the webpage for Menard & Menard, albeit still wearing his Derzon & Menard baseball hat. (Photo: Screen shot)
The Journal Sentinel first reported the dispute between the partners in 2017 and disclosed the DA was looking into the matter last year.

The criminal complaint lays several schemes, including:

Derzon's retirement funds: The complaint says that on Aug.15, 2013, Derzon had a retirement balance of $269,722 when Menard told him the account would be rolled over.

Instead, the complaint said, Derzon's retirement funds were deposited into the firm's business account and Menard "rapidly spent Mr. Derzon's retirement funds." 

Expenditures included $22,585 to Boston College for Menard's son's tuition, $1,629 to the Milwaukee Athletic Club, $5,000 to a woman's account at the Philippines National Bank, a $774 payment to Time Warner Cable, $12,135 to American Express and several withdrawals of cash and payments to Menard.  

The business account had a negative $8,252 balance by Sept. 20, 2013, the complaint states. 

On top of that, Kevin Demet, Derzon's lawyer, said his client has been hit with tax liens on the money he never received.

"It's brutal," Demet said. "First he loses all of his money in the law firm, his retirement is stolen and he's hit with a with a half-million-dollar tax debt."

Derzon is an heir to the Derzon Coins business and in 2012 he and relatives won a bitter probate fight over control of the company and assets.

Uncle Philip Menard'scase: The elder Menard was struck by a car while mowing his lawn in Florida. Robert Menard represented him and collected a $500,000 settlement. 

Instead of paying his uncle two-thirds of the settlement, or $333,333, as had been agreed to, Robert Menard continually made excuses for repeated delays in distributing the cash. At one point, Robert Menard even argued that he — not his uncle who was severely injured in the accident — was entitled to the entire $500,000.

The insurance settlement was paid to the Menard law firm on July 8, 2014. Two months later the account had a negative $43, the criminal complaint said. "All of Philip Menard's settlement funds were gone," the complaint states.

The complaint said the uncle's money went to a variety of parties, including $45,000 to Robert Menard, $29,146 for tuition at Boston College, $15,007 for tuition at Drake University on behalf of a second Menard child and about $20,000 to credit card companies.

In at least five cases, the complaint says, his uncle's settlement money was used to pay other clients after he had stolen settlements meant for those clients.

That scheme was sometimes furthered by forging a signature, the complaint says.

In one case, the complaint notes, Menard lied to a client, telling her that she had won a settlement of $150,000, when he had collected $250,000 for the client.

Menard was arrested Monday morning by investigators from the DA's office. He was being held in Milwaukee County Jail. Bail is expected to be set on Tuesday.

The complaint notes that the investigation is continuing and additional charges may be forthcoming.


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Lawyer Robert Menard charged with stealing more than $700,000 from clients, ex-partner and uncle

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