The case against a local attorney accused of grand theft and exploitation is alarming members of the local legal community.
"It's never a good thing when you're moving money from one place to another," say Sarah Sullivan, Associate Professor of Professional Skills at the Florida Coastal School of Law.
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Sullivan says local attorneys are embarrassed and disgusted that their peer, Cynthia Nichols, is accused of scamming her elderly client, Mary Vest, out of $100,000.
Action News went to Sullivan to find out how this could happen. She says guardians are court appointed, and must follow strict rules.
"Every year, [guardians] have to go back to the court and do a fairly detailed record of accounting that talks about everything that's come in, and everything that's gone out of their clients accounts."
But in this case, Sullivan says something looks wrong.
"It sounds like there's a bunch of money moving around that did not have the courts attention."
According to Nichols arrest report, she regularly transferred small amounts of money out of Vest's account and into another clients account. From there, police say, Nichols withdrew the cash.
Sullivan practices in the same court as Nichols, and believes the checks and balances are there. She's not sure how those small transactions went unnoticed.
"If anyone is going to have an evil intention they're going to find a way around it."
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Attorneys Embarrassed and Disgusted Over Peer's Actions![]()
"It's never a good thing when you're moving money from one place to another," say Sarah Sullivan, Associate Professor of Professional Skills at the Florida Coastal School of Law.
Sullivan says local attorneys are embarrassed and disgusted that their peer, Cynthia Nichols, is accused of scamming her elderly client, Mary Vest, out of $100,000.Action News went to Sullivan to find out how this could happen. She says guardians are court appointed, and must follow strict rules.
"Every year, [guardians] have to go back to the court and do a fairly detailed record of accounting that talks about everything that's come in, and everything that's gone out of their clients accounts."
But in this case, Sullivan says something looks wrong.
"It sounds like there's a bunch of money moving around that did not have the courts attention."
According to Nichols arrest report, she regularly transferred small amounts of money out of Vest's account and into another clients account. From there, police say, Nichols withdrew the cash.
Sullivan practices in the same court as Nichols, and believes the checks and balances are there. She's not sure how those small transactions went unnoticed.
"If anyone is going to have an evil intention they're going to find a way around it."
Full Article and Source:
Attorneys Embarrassed and Disgusted Over Peer's Actions