NJ Lawyer Forges Clients' Signatures on Unauthorized Settlement and Is Reprimanded
A New Jersey lawyer has been reprimanded for forging two clients’ signatures on releases for an unauthorized settlement, appending his own signature as a “witness” and then attesting in the jurat that both clients had appeared before him to sign.
Donald Bedell Jr. said that because of a miscommunication between him and his secretary, he believed that his clients did, in fact, want to accept the settlement, according to the Legal Profession Blog.
But even after he realized his mistake and attempted to rectify it, Bedell didn’t tell his clients about the releases. When they finally found out, because an insurance company was trying to enforce the judgments at issue, they were able to overturn them, with the help of new counsel. At that point, Bedell admitted his mistake and testified on their behalf.
Although the Legal Profession Blog expressed surprise at what it considered a relatively light punishment, the the New Jersey Supreme Court says in its opinion last year that a reprimand is standard under such circumstances.
Among the factors weighing in Bedell’s favor were a lack of any prior disciplinary record; his admission of responsibility, apology and attempt to rectify the situation; and that he was not motivated by personal gain.
