MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A Memphis attorney has been convicted of stealing the thousands of dollars his client was awarded in a settlement, the Shelby County District Attorney’s Office says.
According to the Shelby County District Attorney’s Office, Paul Springer stole a $150,000 check from a woman he represented in 2014 civil case. He was convicted of theft of property over $60,000 Thursday.
The DA’s office says Springer represented a woman in a wrongful termination suit against the City of Memphis. The case settled with the City of Memphis agreeing to pay the woman $150,000.
The DA’s office says Springer’s fee was one-third of the settlement. The woman was supposed to end up with $90,000 after deducting litigation costs from her share.
Springer is said to have picked up the check from the City Attorney’s Office in March 2014, but the DA’s office says he never told his client. He kept the full amount for himself.
The DA’s office says the woman received a payment from the Tennessee Lawyers Fund for Client Protection. That fund is reportedly financed by annual registration fees from attorneys who are licensed to practice in Tennessee.
According to the DA’s office, if the judge orders restitution and Springer pays it, the woman must return the money she received from the client protect fund.
Springer was permanently disbarred in 2018 by the Tennessee Board of Professional Responsibility. He was licensed in 2001.
Springer will be sentenced in June.
The DA’s office says Springer is still facing theft charges that involve another client.
According to court documents, a woman hired Springer to represent her in a civil case as well as a criminal case in May of 2012. She signed a Contract for Services with Springer for $10,000. She paid him $5,200 and had a balance of $4,800 left.
Four years later, in June of 2016, she received a settlement check for $123,950 from Springer’s law firm. The check was from a settlement in the civil case and the total amount was supposed to be $185,000. Court documents say $61,050 had been withheld.
The woman reportedly told investigator she did not agree to a settlement in her civil case and that she was told both of her cases would be handled. She also told investigators she did not sign a contract paying Springer a contingency or retainer fee.
The woman received copies of the Contract of Services and the contingency contract. According to court documents, the woman reiterated that she did not sign the contingency contract and stated her signature had been forged.
Court documents say the woman hired two forensic document examiners to review both documents. The examiners determined the signature on the contingency contract had originated from the signature on the Contract for Services.
Court documents say $180,200 was stolen due to the alleged forgery, including the balance $4,800 the woman owed Springer.
Springer was charged with forgery in the amount of $60,000-$250,000 and theft of property worth $10,000-$60,000.
