Attorney Charles Clement of Boone, NC; sleazy thief

The state of North Carolina presented Charles E. Clement with a law license in 1964 after he graduated from Wake Forest University Law School.

The Grievance Committee of the North Carolina State Bar found Charlie guilty of the following misconduct.

In one matter, Charlie was hired to represent a home owner’s association at an agreed hourly fee of $150.00. Subsequently, the case settled for $25,000 in favor of Charlie’s client.

After receipt of the $25,000, Charlie unilaterally changed the fee agreement and then paid himself $17,500 of the settlement amount and paid the association $7,500. In short, Charlie paid himself 70% of the $25,000 as fees. This led to the Association repeatedly demanding asking for an itemized statement of Charlie’s alleged legal services and for a return of the unearned portion of the fee. As one would expect, Charlie failed to provide the requested accounting and retained the unearned fees until the State Bar threatened to take action against him.

As a consequence of his misconduct the cheerleaders for Attorney Misfits sitting on the Grievance Committee of the North Carolina State Bar punished Charlie by gifting him with a complimentary reprimand.

As we speak (ca. July 2015) Charlie practices with the Clement Law Office in Boone, North Carolina.