Lawyer Disbarred After Telling Client Fish Story About Unfiled Case

A lawyer who told a client he had won a $1.1 million medical malpractice settlement -- when, in fact, no suit had been filed -- paid a heavy price for the deception on July 19: loss of license.

The New Jersey Supreme Court ordered the immediate disbarment of Philip Morell, despite the Disciplinary Review Board's suggestion of a two-year suspension.

"The present case is a clear case of dishonesty, fraud and deceit," the court held, 7-0, in In the Matter of Philip Morell, D-23-04. "The undisputed evidence demonstrates that respondent continually fabricated a story to his client to make it appear that the client's interests were protected and that the client would receive a substantial recovery."

Details here from the New Jersey Law Journal via Law.com.