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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The Professional Claims Handler
Post 5218
Read the full article at https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/zalma-philosophy-claims-handling-part-8-barry-zalma-esq-cfe-zdwsc, see the full video at https://rumble.com/v70zl4s-the-zalma-philosophy-of-claims-handling-part-8.html and at https://youtu.be/MIYcF71ffRQ, and at https://zalma.com/blog plus more than 5200 posts.
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Some experienced and professional claims people know the law in their area of expertise better than most lawyers.
Adjusters should be adjusters and leave lawyering to lawyers. Similarly, lawyers should be lawyers and never try to be adjusters.
Claims Commandment XI – Thou Shall Empathize With the Claimant
Everyone presenting a claim is unhappy, disturbed, shocked, injured and needs help.
Empathy is identification with and understanding of another’s situation, feelings, and motives. It is the ability to understand another person’s circumstances, point of view, thoughts, and feelings....
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See the full video at https://rumble.com/v70wb2i-the-zalma-philosophy-of-claims-handling-part-6.html and at https://youtu.be/tL5nDKPEs40 and at https://zalma.com/blog plus more than 5200 posts.
Post 5217
This is a change from my normal blog postings. It is my attempt. in more than one post, to explain the need for professional claims representatives who comply with the basic custom and practice of the insurance industry.
An Excellence in Claims Handling program begins with a statement in the insurer’s claims manual or statement of professionalism that it is dedicated to providing excellence in claims handling to every insured who presents a claim.
The excellence in claims handling program should include, at a minimum:
A series of lectures supported by text materials explaining:
A definition of insurance.
How to read and understand an insurance policy.
How to interview an insured, witness, or claimant.
How to assist an insured in the insured’s obligation to ...
The Professional Claims Handler
Post 5216
Read the full article at https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/zalma-philosophy-claims-handling-part-5-barry-zalma-esq-cfe-jde8c, see the full video at https://rumble.com/v70q4x8-the-zalma-philosophy-of-claims-handling-part-5.html and at https://youtu.be/6b9tZQsEkB4, and at https://zalma.com/blog plus more than 5200 posts.
This is a change from my normal blog postings. It is my attempt. in more than one post, to explain the need for professional claims representatives who comply with the basic custom and practice of the insurance industry.
Standards to be a Professional Claims Adjuster
The Insurance claims professional should be a person who:
1. Can read and understand the insurance policies issued by the insurer.
2. Understands the promises made by the policy.
3. Understand their obligation, as an insurer’s claims staff, to fulfill the promises made.
4. Are competent investigators.
5. Have empathy and recognize the difference between empathy and sympathy.
6. ...
The Professional Claims Handler
Post 5219
Posted on October 31, 2025 by Barry Zalma
An Insurance claims professionals should be a person who:
Can read and understand the insurance policies issued by the insurer.
Understands the promises made by the policy.
Understand their obligation, as an insurer’s claims staff, to fulfill the promises made.
Are competent investigators.
Have empathy and recognize the difference between empathy and sympathy.
Understand medicine relating to traumatic injuries and are sufficiently versed in tort law to deal with lawyers as equals.
Understand how to repair damage to real and personal property and the value of the repairs or the property.
Understand how to negotiate a fair and reasonable settlement with the insured that is fair and reasonable to both the insured and the insurer.
How to Create Claims Professionals
To avoid fraudulent claims, claims of breach of contract, bad faith, punitive damages, unresolved losses, and to make a profit, insurers ...
The History Behind the Creation of a Claims Handling Expert
The Insurance Industry Needs to Implement Excellence in Claims Handling or Fail
Post 5210
This is a change from my normal blog postings. It is my attempt. in more than one post, to explain the need for professional claims representatives who comply with the basic custom and practice of the insurance industry. This statement of my philosophy on claims handling starts with my history as a claims adjuster, insurance defense and coverage lawyer and insurance claims handling expert.
My Training to be an Insurance Claims Adjuster
When I was discharged from the US Army in 1967 I was hired as an insurance adjuster trainee by a professional and well respected insurance company. The insurer took a chance on me because I had been an Army Intelligence Investigator for my three years in the military and could use that training and experience to be a basis to become a professional insurance adjuster.
I was initially sat at a desk reading a text-book on insurance ...
The History Behind the Creation of a Claims Handling Expert
The Insurance Industry Needs to Implement Excellence in Claims Handling or Fail
Post 5210
This is a change from my normal blog postings. It is my attempt. in more than one post, to explain the need for professional claims representatives who comply with the basic custom and practice of the insurance industry. This statement of my philosophy on claims handling starts with my history as a claims adjuster, insurance defense and coverage lawyer and insurance claims handling expert.
My Training to be an Insurance Claims Adjuster
When I was discharged from the US Army in 1967 I was hired as an insurance adjuster trainee by a professional and well respected insurance company. The insurer took a chance on me because I had been an Army Intelligence Investigator for my three years in the military and could use that training and experience to be a basis to become a professional insurance adjuster.
I was initially sat at a desk reading a text-book on insurance ...
