| ► Attorney Laurence Parnoff of Stratford, CT; ethical gremlin |
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Attorney Laurence Parnoff of Stratford, CT; ethical gremlin
The state of Connecticut provided Laurence V. Parnoff with a law license in 1970.
The Statewide Grievance Committee found Laurence guilty of the following misconduct.
In one matter, Laurence represented a client in a bad faith claim against her employer. The client was previously represented by attorney Laura Mooney. The fee agreement called for Laurence to receive 40% of the settlement or jury verdict. Laurence then represented t he client in an arbitration proceeding. The arbitrators awarded the client $1,096,032, which led Laurence to assert his claim for 40%.
Subsequently, the client learned that the fee claimed by Laurence was higher than the statutory fee allowed for personal injury cases (fee cap statute). The client refused to sign the settlement check and the settlement statement prepared by Laurence, which showed he would receive a fee of $438,413. The client believed the fee was too high and that attorney Laura Mooney should received a portion of the fee.
Laurence then sued attorney Laura Mooney for interfering with his contract with his client. At a subsequent hearing in the Mooney case, the client attended oral argument and the fee dispute was discussed with the court. The client then agreed to sign the settlement check and she authorized a legal fee to Laurence of $125,000 on the condition that the balance of the funds would be placed in escrow. He then placed $313,413 into the client’s trust account.
Subsequently, Laurence sued his client for his claimed fees and a jury awarded him $252,044 on his breach of contract claim. The client appealed and the court ruled as a matter of law that the client did not waive the applicability of the “fee cap statute.” At some point, Laurence deposited the escrow funds in a certificate of deposit. During the appeal process, the CD matured and there was $363,961 in the client’s escrow account.
Laurence then moved the $363,961 to his personal account and used the money to pay his bills. When Laurence was caught removing the client’s escrow funds and threatened with being suspended, he placed $61,378 in a trust account.
Laurence was required to retain the $363,961 in a client trust account, which he failed to do. Contrary to the rules, Laurence failed to deposit the $61,378 into an interest bearing account.
As a consequence of his misconduct, the apologists for Attorney Misfits sitting on the Statewide Grievance Committee punished Laurence by gifting him with a complimentary reprimand.
As we speak (ca. March 2013) Laurence practices at 3392 Huntington Road in Stratford, Connecticut.
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