Lawyer’s former clients allege fraud, millions in theft before he died
Multiple former clients of a Kentucky probate lawyer allege that he stole anywhere from few hundred dollars to as much as $5 million from them before his death in March 2025. (Image from Shutterstock)
Multiple former clients of a Kentucky probate lawyer allege that he stole anywhere from few hundred dollars to as much as $5 million from them before his death in March 2025.
Numerous claims were made by clients who hired Lexington, Kentucky, partner Lyle McQuinn, 48, of Goeing, Goeing and McQuinn (now Goeing Law) to prepare and orchestrate their wills. At the time of McQuinn’s self-inflicted death on March 18, 2025, he amassed more than $25 million in assets.
Earlier that same month, a client had filed a lawsuit claiming that the attorney took more than $5 million from her late husband’s estate, according to coverage by the Lexington Herald Leader.
Public administrator John Norman noted in court records that there could be as many as 3,800 victims. McQuinn is suspected of stealing through phantom trusts, excessive attorney fees, voidable wills and other methods. Losses are reported to range from hundreds of dollars to millions; however, more recent claims don’t allege theft but a failure to complete services.
Whitney Wallingford, who is the attorney handling McQuinn’s estate, said some claims have been denied because of lack of evidence.
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