| ► Attorney Marlene Joseph of Philadelphia; convicted felon |
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Attorney Marlene Joseph of Philadelphia; convicted felon
The Office of Disciplinary Counsel (ODC) found Marlene guilty of the following misconduct.
Marlene the Felon
In one matter, Marlene was charged in Federal Court with one count of mail fraud and two counts of tax evasion. She subsequently pleaded guilty to all three counts. The mail fraud conviction related to a fee agreement between Marlene and her client in a personal injury action. The fee agreement stated that Marlene would receive 40% of any recovery from the insurance company as her fee. Marlene later received a $15,000 check from the insurer made out to Marlene and her client. Marlene then cashed the check by forging her client’s name and kept the entire $15,000. She never advised her client of her receipt of the $15,000 settlement check.
The tax evasion charges related to false income claims for three years. Over the three years she understated her income by $76,000, $102,000 and $62,000 respectively. She also falsified her income expenses for those three years. The trial judge sentenced Malene to 366 days in prison
Marlene Stealing from Clients
In one matter, Marlene represented a client’s minor son who was injured in an auto accident. Subsequently, Marlene received a $16,000 settlement check, which she then forged the client’s signature and used the funds for her own personal use.
In a second matter, Marlene represented a client involved who was injured in an auto accident. The insurer sent a settlement check for $20,000 payable to Marlene and her client. Even though the client was entitled to $12,000, it took Marlene over seven (7) months to pay the client and she did so by issuing checks on six (6) occasions in amounts ranging from $1,850 to $5,000.
As a consequence of his misconduct, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court punished Marlene by disbarring her.
However, several years later the comedians sitting on the Supreme Court had the chutzpah to reinstate Marlene the Criminal’s law license.
As we speak (ca. February 2013) Marlene practices at 801 Old York Road in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
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