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NJ Atty Cops To Bilking Clients With Asbestos Suits Scam
Law360, New York (March 04, 2014, 3:56 PM ET) -- A former attorney with the Haddonfield, N.J., office of Dickie McCamey & Chilcote PC pled guilty Tuesday to fraudulently doctoring copies of more than 100 asbestos complaints in New York to make it seem like the firm clients were defendants.
By falsely inserting client names into legitimately filed suits, Arobert C. Tonogbanua, 44, of Sicklerville, N.J., generated more than $1 million in bogus defense fees, costs and settlements and won himself bonuses and increased compensation, according to U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman.
Dickey McCamey, which specializes in toxic tort, workers’ compensation and immigration law, uncovered evidence of Tonogbanua's misconduct in April 2012, determined that the now-former shareholder acted alone and demanded his resignation and notified impacted clients and authorities, the firm said in statement Tuesday. Tonogbanua had been with the Haddonfield office since 2008.
“We have reimbursed the affected clients all fees paid to the firm which resulted from Tonogbanua's improper activity,” the firm said. “Clearly, this shocked those of us who knew and worked with Mr. Tonogbanua. We never had any reason to suspect or believe that he was engaged in, or capable of, misconduct.”
Tonogbanua on Tuesday copped to one count of wire fraud before U.S. Judge Noel Hillman in Camden and has agreed to provide full restitution to the firm as part of his plea deal.
Once he secured copies of the asbestos complaints and replaced firm clients with the actual defendants, Tonogbanua forwarded the altered documents to clients and their insurance companies without the knowledge of anyone else at the firm, prosecutors said.
Tonogbanua and others who weren't aware of the scheme then went about attending depositions, answering discovery and even settling claims on behalf of duped clients, according to prosecutors.
Dickey McCamey said it tapped an independent forensic accounting firm to determine the full extent of Tonogbanua's actions and forwarded those reports to clients, the FBI and the New Jersey Office of Attorney Ethics. Tonogbanua was disbarred by consent as of April 16, records show.
Tonogbanua's sentencing is currently scheduled for June 17. He faces a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison.
An attorney for Tonogbanua did not immediately return a request for comment on Tuesday.
Tonogbanua is represented by Michael Miller of Helmer Conley & Kasselman PA.
The case is U.S. v. Tonogbanua, in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey. The case number was not immediately available.
--Editing by Christine Chun.
By falsely inserting client names into legitimately filed suits, Arobert C. Tonogbanua, 44, of Sicklerville, N.J., generated more than $1 million in bogus defense fees, costs and settlements and won himself bonuses and increased compensation, according to U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman.
Dickey McCamey, which specializes in toxic tort, workers’ compensation and immigration law, uncovered evidence of Tonogbanua's misconduct in April 2012, determined that the now-former shareholder acted alone and demanded his resignation and notified impacted clients and authorities, the firm said in statement Tuesday. Tonogbanua had been with the Haddonfield office since 2008.
“We have reimbursed the affected clients all fees paid to the firm which resulted from Tonogbanua's improper activity,” the firm said. “Clearly, this shocked those of us who knew and worked with Mr. Tonogbanua. We never had any reason to suspect or believe that he was engaged in, or capable of, misconduct.”
Tonogbanua on Tuesday copped to one count of wire fraud before U.S. Judge Noel Hillman in Camden and has agreed to provide full restitution to the firm as part of his plea deal.
Once he secured copies of the asbestos complaints and replaced firm clients with the actual defendants, Tonogbanua forwarded the altered documents to clients and their insurance companies without the knowledge of anyone else at the firm, prosecutors said.
Tonogbanua and others who weren't aware of the scheme then went about attending depositions, answering discovery and even settling claims on behalf of duped clients, according to prosecutors.
Dickey McCamey said it tapped an independent forensic accounting firm to determine the full extent of Tonogbanua's actions and forwarded those reports to clients, the FBI and the New Jersey Office of Attorney Ethics. Tonogbanua was disbarred by consent as of April 16, records show.
Tonogbanua's sentencing is currently scheduled for June 17. He faces a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison.
An attorney for Tonogbanua did not immediately return a request for comment on Tuesday.
Tonogbanua is represented by Michael Miller of Helmer Conley & Kasselman PA.
The case is U.S. v. Tonogbanua, in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey. The case number was not immediately available.
--Editing by Christine Chun.
Shrader & Associates, L.L.P. Expands Resources for Asbestos Legal Claims
Shrader & Associates, L.L.P. is a reputable personal injury law firm that is known for providing its patients with expert legal guidance and representation for asbestos-related mesothelioma cases. It has recently enhanced the resources it provides to its clients online to improve its high level of service.
Before a legal claim can be pursued for an asbestos case, the fact is that the patient must be properly diagnosed with mesothelioma. The symptoms of mesothelioma can mimic those of other conditions. Furthermore, many people who were exposed to asbestos may not be aware that they were exposed to it. This can make a diagnosis difficult, but Shrader & Associates, L.L.P. provides its valued clients with an excellent range of resources online that can help clients learn more about the condition and how to seek a proper diagnosis. In addition, the law firm offers personalized assistance to its clients when they believe they may have been exposed to asbestos and may have mesothelioma.
Once a mesothelioma diagnosis has been made, individuals can meet with the legal team at Shrader & Associates, L.L.P. to learn more about their rights. To seek compensation under personal injury law, it is necessary to show the court where the exposure to asbestos occurred, and there are different steps that can be taken to accomplish this. The experienced legal team at Shrader & Associates, L.L.P. has considerable knowledge and expertise in this area, and this can be highly beneficial to those who are interested in pursuing the matter through the courts.
Individuals who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma may experience the financial effects associated with medical bills and the inability to work and earn a living. They may require considerably more costly medical services as the condition worsens over time. By seeking assistance from the team at Shrader & Associates, L.L.P., individuals can pursue financial recourse by filing a lawsuit. This ultimately can ease many burdens associated with mesothelioma.
About
Shrader & Associates, L.L.P. is an established law firm that has been assisting clients throughout the Houston area with personal injury cases, and it specializes in asbestos-related mesothelioma cases. The law firm offers numerous online resources, and it also provides its clients with personalized assistance throughout the legal process. Those who are interested in exploring their legal rights with a professional lawyer can contact Shrader & Associates, L.L.P. by phone at 877-637-6347.
Shrader & Associates, L.L.P. is an established law firm that has been assisting clients throughout the Houston area with personal injury cases, and it specializes in asbestos-related mesothelioma cases. The law firm offers numerous online resources, and it also provides its clients with personalized assistance throughout the legal process. Those who are interested in exploring their legal rights with a professional lawyer can contact Shrader & Associates, L.L.P. by phone at 877-637-6347.
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