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The Velveteen Ocelot

(115,674 posts)

11. Barela sounds like a dodgy character himself,

Wed Jan 23, 2019, 12:50 PM

Jan 2019

but that doesn't excuse fiddling with client funds (and your theory makes sense - Avenatti might have been kiting funds owed from settlements that haven't yet arrived). Many years ago in another life I worked for a state appellate court that handled lawyer discipline appeals. In the vast majority of cases the lawyer got in trouble for "borrowing" from his trust accounts ("I'll just take a little of this money to pay some bills and I'll pay it back when I get paid on another case and nobody will ever know" ), and the motivating factor for the borrowing was usually a drinking or gambling problem, though in a few cases the lawyer was just a crook.

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Former Client Accuses Michael Avenatti of Operating Law Firm Like a 'Ponzi Scheme' [View all] jberryhill Jan 2019 OP

Yikes. This is the sort of shit that gets lawyers disbarred. The Velveteen Ocelot Jan 2019 #1

Barela is pursuing arbitration jberryhill Jan 2019 #9

Barela sounds like a dodgy character himself, The Velveteen Ocelot Jan 2019 #11

But he's a fighter! LuvLoogie Jan 2019 #2

If true, this is cause for disbarment. Sanity Claws Jan 2019 #3

Isn't this the sort of thing that gets you disbarred? Indicted, even? TreasonousBastard Jan 2019 #4

#1 reason for disbarment jberryhill Jan 2019 #10

Is that Orly Taitz? The Velveteen Ocelot Jan 2019 #15

The one and only... jberryhill Jan 2019 #16

Did she go back to being a dentist The Truth Is Here Jan 2019 #18

It appears that she is now working as a full-time lunatic and conspiracy theorist. The Velveteen Ocelot Jan 2019 #20

I remain skeptical of Mr. Avenatti. LuvLoogie Jan 2019 #5

I am not surprised. still_one Jan 2019 #6

Avenatti has already done all I needed malaise Jan 2019 #7

Yeah he really helped blow that up....and Stormy. nt UniteFightBack Jan 2019 #25

Blows my mind that anybody thought this con man ought to run for president. The Velveteen Ocelot Jan 2019 #8

I like Michael Avenatti. Saboburns Jan 2019 #12

You really shouldn't. A lawyer who takes money from his client's trust account The Velveteen Ocelot Jan 2019 #13

I agree completely with you here. Saboburns Jan 2019 #17

BTW I don't like Avenatti because he stirred up shit. Saboburns Jan 2019 #19

One of the most important characteristics of a con man is The Velveteen Ocelot Jan 2019 #21

As I see it. Saboburns Jan 2019 #22

If he did anything his client did not know about, direct or approve, he violated his duty to her. The Velveteen Ocelot Jan 2019 #23

er,um Yes Saboburns Jan 2019 #24

Excellent. Kingofalldems Jan 2019 #14