Memphis law firm convicted of stealing $150,000 from client

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A Memphis lawyer has been convicted of stealing the hundreds of dollars his shopper was awarded in a settlement, the Shelby County District Attorney’s Business says.

According to the Shelby County District Attorney’s Place of work, Paul Springer stole a $150,000 examine from a female he represented in 2014 civil situation. He was convicted of theft of assets around $60,000 Thursday.

The DA’s place of work claims Springer represented a female in a wrongful termination match in opposition to the Town of Memphis. The case settled with the City of Memphis agreeing to pay out the woman $150,000.

The DA’s office states Springer’s payment was a single-3rd of the settlement. The lady was intended to finish up with $90,000 immediately after deducting litigation costs from her share.

Springer is mentioned to have picked up the examine from the Metropolis Attorney’s Business office in March 2014, but the DA’s business office states he hardly ever explained to his client. He retained the comprehensive sum for himself.

The DA’s business suggests the lady received a payment from the Tennessee Lawyers Fund for Client Defense. That fund is reportedly financed by yearly registration charges from lawyers who are accredited to exercise in Tennessee.

In accordance to the DA’s workplace, if the judge orders restitution and Springer pays it, the girl need to return the money she gained from the consumer secure fund.

Springer was completely disbarred in 2018 by the Tennessee Board of Qualified Responsibility. He was accredited in 2001.

Springer will be sentenced in June.

The DA’s office suggests Springer is continue to struggling with theft fees that involve yet another shopper.

According to court paperwork, a lady employed Springer to depict her in a civil circumstance as effectively as a felony scenario in May possibly of 2012. She signed a Deal for Expert services with Springer for $10,000. She paid out him $5,200 and experienced a balance of $4,800 still left.

Four many years afterwards, in June of 2016, she obtained a settlement verify for $123,950 from Springer’s law organization. The check was from a settlement in the civil scenario and the complete total was intended to be $185,000. Court docket paperwork say $61,050 experienced been withheld.

The lady reportedly advised investigator she did not agree to a settlement in her civil case and that she was instructed both of those of her cases would be dealt with. She also explained to investigators she did not sign a agreement shelling out Springer a contingency or retainer cost.

The female acquired copies of the Agreement of Solutions and the contingency deal. In accordance to courtroom documents, the female reiterated that she did not signal the contingency deal and mentioned her signature experienced been forged.

Court documents say the girl employed two forensic doc examiners to evaluation both paperwork. The examiners identified the signature on the contingency deal had originated from the signature on the Contract for Products and services.

Courtroom documents say $180,200 was stolen due to the alleged forgery, such as the stability $4,800 the female owed Springer.

Springer was billed with forgery in the total of $60,000-$250,000 and theft of house well worth $10,000-$60,000.