While trying a case in Court Monday, Mr. Webster was able to successfully try a case that resulted in a Not Guilty decision by the Judge. Once the Judge ruled on the case he was handed an fax telling him that Art Webster has been disbarred and asked Mr. Webster to come read what had just been handed to him.
It turns out, back in November Art was handling a Bankruptcy Case for a client in which they wrote him a check for, $3,630.00, $3,000.00 of which was attorney fees and the rest was court costs. Rather than placing ALL of the money into an escrow account, Mr. Webster put it into his operating account.
Mr. Webster admits he knows that was wrong and stated that he should have known better but being a one man show, he simply screwed up and placed it into the wrong account.
The law states that if you do so, it's grounds for immediate disbarment and that's exactly how the Appeals Court ruled. It's not as if he cheated his Client. He didn't steal from the Client and he didn't lie to his Client. They simply were not pleased with the end results of the Bankruptcy and I'm told the Courts believed he did a fine job handling the actual case. He simply did not handle the funds properly and he's out.
Anyone else make any other statement about what happened other than what I am stating here would be lying. What you are getting from me is a direct conversation with Art Webster and like a MAN he has admitted he did wrong but is very surprised at the end result. Nonetheless, he's taking it like a man and will firmly admit he did wrong.
Boy could I tell you other stories about local attorneys who I now know would be disbarred if the proper authorities learned of their practices. I'll hold onto that until I need it though. LOL
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
5 comments:
joe,
you should check out the maryland court of appeals web site and read the decision by the court. not only did art do what you said, but he also lied to a client. telling her he filed for custody and never did it. also, this is not the first "run in" art has had with the bar. check it out for yourself on the court of appeals site. it's a rather lengthy decision but the evidence, according to them, is quite clear.
Wait a minute. Did he know he was disbarred before he went into court to try the case?
My guess is, he did. In which case, he really screwed up practicing law without a license.
Do you actually think at this point anyone gives a damn?
From what I learned, no, he found after the Judge read the fax.
He even said to the Judge following that case, "At least I went out as a winner."
ALL of his cases are being turned over to other Attorneys.
My guess is that Charles Jannace bought him breakfast, lunch and dinner today and any other day he'd like.
i liked art, i was sad to hear this info. he was a decent defense attorney and never hasseled you unless you deserved it. hopefully he'll be back someday. good luck art, hold your head up.
we read, the amount was much greater...73k...
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