Bookkeeper charged with $500K theft from law firm

Eight-figure fraud verdict returned in Bonn bonds case – $96,400,000 Verdict

By Virginia Lawyers Weekly
Published: November 21, 2011
Tags: Federal Courts, Fraud, Judge Gerald Bruce Lee, Million-Dollar Verdicts

An Alexandria federal jury returned a verdict on Oct. 27, 2011 of $96,400,000 in favor of Honua Investment Management, Inc. and its bondholders who were defrauded by Man Ki Kim, a McLean businessman. The case was tried over a period of four days by James M. Ringer of New York and Daniel L. Fitch of [...]

Investors recover $96M on fraud claim

By Peter Vieth
Published: November 2, 2011
Tags: Federal Courts, Fraud, Million-Dollar Verdicts

A group of bondholders who lost their investment when a major German municipal project went bust have won a $96.4 million Alexandria federal jury verdict against a South Korean national who allegedly lied about backing for the bonds. The jury found former McLean businessman Man Ki Kim committed fraud when he promised to provide money [...]

Fairfax lawyer hit for fraud, legal malpractice

By Paul Fletcher
Published: October 31, 2011
Tags: Fairfax County Circuit Court, Fraud, Judge Michael F. Devine, Legal Malpractice

A Fairfax lawyer has been hit with a malpractice verdict in a claim brought by a divorce client who argued he convinced her to take an unfavorable settlement. And in the same case, her brother-in-law won a fraud verdict, including a punitives award, because the lawyer borrowed money to prosecute the case, then paid himself [...]

Attorney is tagged for malpractice, fraud – $524,975 Verdict

By Virginia Lawyers Weekly
Published: October 31, 2011
Tags: Fairfax County Circuit Court, Fraud, Judge Michael F. Devine, Legal Malpractice

Defendant represented plaintiff Whyard in her divorce. He never pursued pendente lite spousal support, failed to designate any experts, was deficient in his discovery efforts and took no depositions. He convinced Whyard to accept a settlement one business day before trial, which gave her less of the marital estate than she would have likely received [...]

Lawyers warily picking over wreckage of attorney’s practice

By Peter Vieth
Published: July 14, 2011
Tags: Fraud, Insurance, Personal Injury, Scams

Lawyers and insurance companies are being careful as they pick through the wreckage of the law practice left behind by disbarred Maryland lawyer A. Ryan Lahuti. Lahuti has been convicted in Virginia for his role in an insurance fraud scam. There are several hundred clients, mostly members of the Metro DC Hispanic community, left in [...]

Bedbug bites back fraud and consumer claims

By Paul Fletcher
Published: July 7, 2011
Tags: Consumer Protection, Fairfax County Circuit Court, Fraud, Judge R. Terrence Ney

A Northern Virginia family moved into an apartment in Fairfax in 2009 that they claim was so infested with bedbugs that they had to move out just a few months later. They just learned they can sue their landlord for the bites they suffered and other injuries. In addition to a breach of contract lawsuit [...]

Computer fraud claim stays in federal court

By Peter Vieth
Published: June 14, 2011
Tags: Federal Courts, Fraud, Judge T.S. Ellis III

Employers trying to trace the electronic trails of defecting employees may have a better chance to recover damages under a federal computer fraud statute, in the wake of a ruling in a new trade secrets case. The case involves a clash between two Northern Virginia litigation support firms, and one company’s suit for damages under [...]

Auto insurance fraud scheme snags lawyer

By Peter Vieth
Published: May 25, 2011
Tags: Fraud, Insurance, Personal Injury

“Claim an injury and get you some money.” That was the advice from an investigator for a personal injury lawyer now facing up to 20 years in prison for insurance fraud in Virginia, according to federal authorities. The FBI claims it has broken up a scheme that used aggressive “runners,” a cooperative chiropractor and a [...]

Homeowners allege fraud in refinancing of mortgage – Confidential Settlement

By Virginia Lawyers Weekly
Published: May 16, 2011
Tags: Consumer Protection, Federal Courts, Fraud

Plaintiff homeowners refinanced their pre-existing mortgage in 2007 with a new loan from defendant lender. Plaintiffs alleged that they requested a new mortgage without mortgage insurance and were promised orally and in writing that the new loan would not have mortgage insurance. Importantly, plaintiffs had sufficient equity in their home to get a loan that [...]