| ► Attorney Paul Hackett of Cincinnati; greedy loser |
 |
 |
|
Attorney Paul Hackett of Cincinnati; greedy loser 
The state of Ohio presented Paul Lewis Hackett with a law license in 1988 after he graduated from Cleveland State University Law School.
The Cincinnati Bar Association Grievance Committee found Steve guilty of the following misconduct.
Paul entered into an employment agreement with an associated that stated upon the associate’s termination, the associate would no longer continue to represent or attempt to represent clients of Paul’s law firm whose claims had been assigned to him for representation. The agreement further provided that if a client chose to leave Paul’s law firm and thereafter was represented by the associate, the associate would be required to pay Paul 95% of any attorney fees generated in that case, based upon a 33.3% contingent fee agreement.
Ten days before the associate terminated his employment with Paul, he executed a contingency fee agreement on behalf of Paul’s law firm to represent a client in a personal injury matter. Shortly thereafter, the client advised Paul that he decided to retain the former associate to handle his case.
Subsequently, Paul learned that the client’s case had been settled and the settlement check had been sent to his formerassociate. Paul t hen filed a lawsuit in the Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas to enforce the employment agreement and to recover 95% of the fees paid to the former associate.
The associate then filed a motion to dismiss Paul’s complaint. The trial then dismissed the case, ruling that the employment agreement violated Ohio’s public policy favoring a client’s freedom to choose a lawyer.
The Grievance Committee ruled that Paul violated the Rules prohibiting a lawyer from charging or collecting an illegal or clearly excessive fee.
As a consequence of his misconduct, the Patron Saints for Attorney Misfits sitting on the Ohio Supreme Court punished Paul by gifting him with a complimentary reprimand.
As we speak (ca. November 2012) Paul practices with the Hackett Law Offices at 1210 Sycamore Street in Cincinnati, Ohio.
|
