Lots of attorneys have financial problems. They do not get disciplined or disbarred for failing to pay taxes, mortgages, credit card debt, etc, unless it is willful, like the guy someone cited who did so on purpose. They do face discipline if they fail to pay something connected with their business, like expert fees, or unused retainers, etc.
Lots of people have lost their jobs, or suffered massive slow downs in business or business losses and that has affected their ability to pay debts. That does not make them bad or irresponsible. Other people allowed themselves to be snowed by a banking industry that knew full well that the subprime mortgages and stated income loans were unsustainable and that the debtors would not be able to fulfill their obligations. Those people may not have been smart, but they are not bad or immoral people. The banking industry bears more of the blame, IMO, because those in the industry had the knowledge, stats and experience that most of the people entering into these contracts did not. It was a huge scam that took advantage of people's ignorance (and in some cases, their greed).
As a result, many financial experts are advising that people in default stay rent free in their homes without paying the mortgage until it forecloses, which is usually a long process and enables these people to save a bit and get back on their feet.
But JB is an attorney. He knew whether he could sustain such payments at the time he entered into the mortgage. I think this is only a bit relevant to casey's case and that is in the sense that it displays the arrogant thinking that has somewhat affected the case. I think he was arrogant and believing that he would soon be a hotshot attorney making millions, so why not act on his future windfall now? That's his mistake.
but, I don't think JB has made any crucial mistakes so far in the defense of casey. He's been okay as an attorney. Nevertheless, the news about all the judgments against him for failure to pay experts, etc., is troubling. An attorney entering into a mortgage he knows he cannot sustain, based on the arrogant assumption that the attorney is sure to rise to prominence within a short amount of time, is the same kind of person whose arrogance leads a three year attorney to think he can take on a world famous death penalty case and then smugly chastises media for relevant questions about the case.
I dislike JB as an attorney and a human. I think he is smarmy
and snaky. I don't feel this way about all defense attorneys, regardless of who they defend. It's how they defend them that matters to me. But JB's personality rubs me the wrong way. And I think his financial problems result in large part from his personality. I don't think he's made any major mistakes so far. He's done okay, I think, even though I can't stand him. But it is likely only a matter of time. If anything, his personality alone will kill his client. The jury will hate him and he has no idea as to how to hide the ugliness of his client , who they will equally hate. :twocents:
In fact, at first I had some of the same concerns. So, please don't feel alone or attacked by people voicing their opposing views. We are talking about a man who was denied admittance to the bar because he was wayyyyy behind in child support payments. Just asking the bar to admit him when he knew that shows him to be extremely arrogant and speaks volumes about his fiscal priorities. He has purchased 2 expensive homes that he could not afford. And now he is entrusted to responsibly spend the taxpayer's money while he has already squandered over $300K. So, even though he didn't use that money to pay his mortgage, the FL taxpayers have a right to know who about the character of the man who is entrusted to spend THEIR dollars. Bottom line, this is public record and he is the lead counsel with his hands dipping into taxpayers' pockets. I don't feel bad a bit anymore about discussing this man's irresponsibility. I think it is very relevant to his character. This is not a one time mistake. In fact, I have YET to see him make a fiscally prudent decision - professional OR personal.
