Lawyer Seeks Voluntary Disbarment For Fraud
Barry Zalma
Nov 16, 2023
Read the full article at https://lnkd.in/gmFRWjir and see the full video at https://lnkd.in/gijqBd-4 and at https://lnkd.in/g2uk8yFW and at https://zalma.com/blog plus more than 4650 posts.
Read the full article at https://lnkd.in/gmFRWjir and see the full video at https://lnkd.in/gijqBd-4 and at https://lnkd.in/g2uk8yFW and at https://zalma.com/blog plus more than 4650 posts.
Cory Howerton Fleming (State Bar No. 292955) asked for voluntary discipline by the Supreme Court Georgia before the issuance of a formal complaint. In the petition, Fleming admitted that during his representation of a client in South Carolina, he violated Rules 1.4 (a) (3), 1.5 (c) (1), 1.7 (a), 1.8 (b), 1.15 (I) (c), 5.4 (c), and 8.4 (a) (4) of the Georgia Rules of Professional Conduct (“GRPC”) found in Bar Rule 4-102 (d). As discipline, Fleming requested that the Court accept the voluntary surrender of his license to practice law.
In The Matter Of Cory Howerton Fleming, No. S23Y0970, Supreme Court of Georgia (November 7, 2023) the Supreme Court was asked to accept attorney Fleming’s request that he be disbarred to avoid a trial since his guilt was obvious. The State Bar filed a response, stating that the Supreme Court should accept the petition.
UNETHICAL CONDUCT
Fleming admitted that he was asked by R. Alexander Murdaugh, a lawyer then-licensed in South Carolina to represent a woman injured at his property. The woman-who was a long-time employee of Murdaugh’s died from her injuries, leaving two sons.
MURDAUGH TAKES THE SETTLEMENT
Murdaugh, a defendant in the lawsuit, convinced Fleming to make the net settlement proceeds check payable to an entity controlled by Murdaugh who apparently converted the funds to his own benefit.
The Supreme Court concluded that Fleming admitted conduct sufficient to establish violations of the Rules of Professional Conduct and that the underlying facts may well be more egregious than Fleming admits. As a result it ordered that the name of Cory Howerton Fleming be removed from the rolls of persons authorized to practice law in the State of Georgia.
ZALMA OPINION
Murdaugh was convicted of murder of his wife and son while trying to avoid prosecution for the theft of funds from his law firm and insurance fraud perpetrated on his professional liability insurers. He convinced Flemming to join in his crime and steal more than $4 million from the estate of his late housekeeper who, with the evidence of wrongdoing overwhelming sought to save the money and time to defend a disbarment proceeding, voluntarily asked the court to remove his license. The sad destruction of a lawyer who trusted a prominent lawyer who turned out to be a murderer.
(c) 2023 Barry Zalma & ClaimSchool, Inc.
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Happy Law Day
ZIFL – Volume 30, Issue 9 – May 1, 2026
Read the full article at https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/zalmas-insurance-fraud-letter-may-1-2026-barry-zalma-esq-cfe-2tywc, see the video at at and at https://zalma.com/blog plus more than 5300 posts.
THE SOURCE FOR THE INSURANCE FRAUD PROFESSIONAL
ZIFL – Volume 30, Issue 9 – May 1, 2026
Zalma’s Insurance Fraud Letter (ZIFL) continues its 30th year of publication dedicated to those involved in reducing the effect of insurance fraud. ZIFL is published 24 times a year and is written by Barry Zalma.
DOJ Creates National Fraud Enforcement Division
Will the Feds Take on Insurance Fraud? Possibly as Part of a National Anti-Fraud Effort
On April 7, 2026, the Acting Attorney General, Todd Blanche, issued a memorandum establishing the Department of Justice National Fraud Enforcement Division (NFED). The memo describes an ambitious, but perhaps redundant, vision for this ...
When Abalone Died As a Result of Multiple Causes The Efficient Proximate Cause Requires Payment
Post number 5345
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In American Abalone Farms, LLC v. Star Insurance Company et al., H052643, California Court of Appeals, Sixth District (April 27, 2026) the Court of Appeals dealt with an insurance coverage issue that required application of the efficient proximate cause doctrine.
FACTS
American Abalone Farms, LLC ("American Abalone" ) operates an aquaculture farm in Santa Cruz County, California, raising abalone in tanks. In August 2020, the CZU Lightning Complex Fires led to a prolonged power outage and road closures near the farm. As a result, the farm’s water pumps failed, causing the death of most of the ...
Breach of a Specific Condition Precedent Is a Complete Defense
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In United Services Automobile Association and State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company v. Anthony Wenzell, 2026 CO 25 (Colo. Apr. 27, 2026) Anthony Wenzell was rear-ended in a car accident. He had a significant prior 2014 accident that required back surgery.
Wenzell claimed underinsured-motorist (UIM) benefits under three policies: (1) the tortfeasor’s liability policy, (2) his own primary UIM policy with State Farm, and (3) an excess UIM policy issued by USAA (under his brother’s policy, which contained an “other insurance” clause making USAA’s coverage excess over any collectible insurance).
After receiving the claims, both USAA and State Farm repeatedly requested that Wenzell execute comprehensive medical-release authorizations so they could obtain his full medical records and ...
It is Fraud to Make the Same Claim Twice
Read the full article at https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/fraud-make-same-claim-twice-barry-zalma-esq-cfe-c4g8c and at https://zalma.com/blog.
Chutzpah: After Being Paid for a New Roof Insured Makes Second Claim For Same Damages
Post number 5347
No One is Entitled to be Paid for the Same Loss Twice
In Mohammed Ali Khalili v. State Farm Lloyds, No. 14-25-00611-CV, Court of Appeals of Texas (April 30, 2026) Khalili maintained a State Farm Lloyds homeowners insurance policy for decades. In 2008 he filed a roof-damage claim; State Farm paid him to replace the entire roof (shingles and gutters). Khalili never replaced the roof and repeated his claim.
BACKGROUND
In 2021 he filed a second roof claim. State Farm’s inspectors found the roof “very old” with extensive non-storm-related damage. The claim was denied because (1) the damage did not exceed the deductible and (2) State Farm had already paid for a full roof replacement.
PROCEDURAL HISTORY
State Farm filed motion for summary...
It is Fraud to Make the Same Claim Twice
Read the full article at https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/fraud-make-same-claim-twice-barry-zalma-esq-cfe-c4g8c and at https://zalma.com/blog.
Chutzpah: After Being Paid for a New Roof Insured Makes Second Claim For Same Damages
Post number 5347
No One is Entitled to be Paid for the Same Loss Twice
In Mohammed Ali Khalili v. State Farm Lloyds, No. 14-25-00611-CV, Court of Appeals of Texas (April 30, 2026) Khalili maintained a State Farm Lloyds homeowners insurance policy for decades. In 2008 he filed a roof-damage claim; State Farm paid him to replace the entire roof (shingles and gutters). Khalili never replaced the roof and repeated his claim.
BACKGROUND
In 2021 he filed a second roof claim. State Farm’s inspectors found the roof “very old” with extensive non-storm-related damage. The claim was denied because (1) the damage did not exceed the deductible and (2) State Farm had already paid for a full roof replacement.
PROCEDURAL HISTORY
State Farm filed motion for summary...
What Must be Done after Notice of a Claim is Received by the Insurer
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A first party property policy does not insure property: it insures a person, partnership, corporation or other entity against the risk of loss of the property. Before an insured can make a claim for indemnity under a policy of first party property insurance the insured must prove that there was damage to property the risk of loss of which was insured by the policy. The obligation imposed on the insured ...
