Rutherford Law Firm- Todd Rutherford Lawyer took money and ran basically Columbia South Carolina

The "Bar Association" doesn't regulate lawyers. It's like the AMA, it's just a professional association.

The State Bar actually regulates lawyers, and is generally an arm of a given state's Supreme Court.

After reading the response from the attorney above, I have changed my thoughts on this matter. The judge should have NEVER advised the reporter as to what to do when the judge knew that the reporter was represented by an attorney. To say "we're having a trial today whether your attorney is here or not" could well be a violation of the Sixth Amendment.

If any plea agreement was entered into, I would most certainly appeal it. I'm not sure about the procedures in your state, but you may be able to file a motion for reconsideration with the court that accepted the agreement, or you may have to go up the ladder to a higher-level local court or a court of appeals.

Best of luck!

Nathan the bar association is responsible for license and regulations of lawyers.

I would contact lawyer regulation. In most states the state supreme court has the power to disipline a lawyer. This crooked jerk needs to lose his law license.
Lawyers are officers of the court. The judge should have disiplined him or held him in contempt.

I would obtain the transcripts. The fact that he was the attorney on record. This and the fact that you paid him 900.00. Hang on to the check or receipts.

The judge was a sly lieing jerk. Telling you that he was going to proceed with trial. If this was a punishable with jail time. You alone needed to waive your right to an attorney. He has no business proceeding to trial without you having counsel. The stalinists in this country railroad people every day.

Did they have you enter a plea? I sure hope it was dismissed upon paying this 60.00

Personally, her friends would have gotten up on the witness stand. Juries are not dumb. They know when something is rehearsed. I would have let the judge proceed without counsel and took it to the appeals court.

I would have gotten on the witness stand looked them in the eye and said that I did not steal any money. I would have submitted to a polygraph.
Its not admissible in court. Maybe the stalinist cops would have not considered you a suspect.

In conclusion, Its time to picket the courthouses where these stalinists judge rein their power. They need to go back to law school. After a while they power corrupts them and they become a stalinist dictator.

I wish you the best. Forget the bar association. Go to the agency in your state that regulates and licenses lawyers in your state. File a complaint. provide the receipts and the court record that he was the attorney on record. It should be a slam dunk.

Nathan

Consider this a response to the complaint filed by the above referenced individual. Ms. --- did in fact retain me for her case where she had previously requested a jury trial. I did need to have the matter continued from the September 14th date to the October 5th date, which is customary and in her best interest. At the end of the day proceeding the trial date, I was called to a hearing in General Sessions Court at the same time as Ms. ---'s hearing. As soon as we were able to do so, we contacted the court and requested the hearing be continued and were told by the Judge's staff that it was fine. This is not the issue at hand, though.

Ms. --- was given direction by me as to what needed to be done. The Judge's actions were extremely improper and he should never have spoken with my client without me present. Because of this impropriety, she now has the conviction on her record. We filed all the proper Motions before this for her case and filed a Motion to Appeal the conviction once this occurred. Ms. --- did not want to pursue this, nor did she follow my directions as to how to proceed. Because of this, she is not entitled to a refund. Please feel free to contact the S.C. Bar Association, because I have already done so.

This is a Myria again. I appreciate everyone's comments. I did contact the bar association and several other organizations that deal with these ethical issues. Bart, I did offer to pay the girl 60.00, that is not what she wanted. This girl just does not like me because of an argument we had at this party therefore she is accusing me of stealing her money. Her money may have gotten stolen I don't know but either way I did offer to give it back to her even though I wasn't the one who took it...I mean gosh it is only 60.00 but her motive was to try to get me in trouble. That's why she had several of her friends as "witnesses" Thanks Tim for your comments, you are absolutely correct. I was scared to go in that alone even though there was no evidence because I didn't do it. I know what they were going to say and don't you think they would believe 5 over 1? Thanks again everyone. I hope this gets resolved soon!

Love your posts by the way. Always very informative and thought out.

Anyway, I guess what I'm really trying to get at is why didn't this person just pay the $60 long ago when first accused of it? The public shame was/is always going to be there anyway.

Bart,

I can see why you would come to such conclusions, but I don't think they are correct, and I don't think the points you raised detract from the reporter's complaint.

While $60 is a small amount of money, a clear criminal record and lack of criminal penalties is worth a heck of lot more than that. And for a misdemeanor jury trial, $1200 is by no means a high fee.

Now, consider that the reporter was faced with this decision: either conduct a jury trial, with NO knowledge of how to actually do so, most likely be found guilty, and then be handed a severe penalty OR pay $60 and be done with it. Either way, he would have ended up paying AT LEAST $60 that day, and could have faced jail time, probation, criminal fines, etc.

What would you do?

that you would pay the $60 if you indeed didn't do it - in which case (which I thought from the begining) the attorney's fees were really quite high to defend something so small. There had to be evidence that you did it or you wouldn't need to cop the plea. This kind of gives your story as a whole a lack of credibility.

that you would pay the $60 if you indeed didn't do it - in which case (which I thought from the begining) the attorney's fees were really quite high to defend something so small. There had to be evidence that you did it or you wouldn't need to cop the plea. This kind of gives your story as a whole a lack of credibility.

that you would pay the $60 if you indeed didn't do it - in which case (which I thought from the begining) the attorney's fees were really quite high to defend something so small. There had to be evidence that you did it or you wouldn't need to cop the plea. This kind of gives your story as a whole a lack of credibility.

Filing a complaint with the bar association is indeed a good start.

I would also see if the bar association offers "fee arbitration" services. In my opinion, as an attorney, you are at LEAST entitled to 2/3 of your money back through this process.

I would then take that money, go out and find yourself another attorney, and sue your first attorney for malpractice.

I'm assuming you walked away from this with a mar on your criminal record, correct? Or are you just out the 60 bucks?

Either way, this guy seems to have committed a big boo-boo, and I'm quite surprised he hasn't refunded all your money yet.

If your claim is true, then file a complaint with the Bar Association.

Contact the State Bar of South Carolina immediately at (803) 799-6653. There are regulations by which all attorneys are to operate and the State Bar exists to investigate and possible discipline attorneys and to help settle disputes between attorneys and clients.

You need their help.

It's simple, contact the South Carolina Bar Association and file a complaint. Most smart attorneys would be willing to give you all of your money back to keep from getting a complaint filed.

It's simple, contact the South Carolina Bar Association and file a complaint. Most smart attorneys would be willing to give you all of your money back to keep from getting a complaint filed.

It's simple, contact the South Carolina Bar Association and file a complaint. Most smart attorneys would be willing to give you all of your money back to keep from getting a complaint filed.