Columbus attorney disbarred after clients accused him of stealing thousands of dollars

A Columbus attorney has been disbarred following multiple complaints to the Georgia Bar Association by clients that he stole money from either their bank account, settlement, or failed to represent the client, according to a document from the Georgia Supreme Court.

Keith Chance Hardy was disbarred on July 13 after the decision was reached by the Georgia Supreme Court that Hardy violated multiple rules.

“After consideration of the record in this matter, we agree with the special master that disbarment is the appropriate sanction for Hardy’s admitted violations of the GRPC,” the court wrote.

Hardy is alleged to have initiated six withdrawals for a total of $20,000 including $120 in wire transfer fees in a case where he was designated a “conflict defender” for a client facing charges of murder, tampering with evidence and other charges , according to the document.

The document says that the client gave Hardy the information to access the account after he told her he could get a bond on her charges, but she would have to pay the money to the bondman.

In the same case it is alleged that Hardy, with the authorization of the client, received jewelry the client was arrested with totaling $3,500 but didn’t turn the jewelry over to the client’s family as instructed and instead kept the jewelry, the state supreme court says.

The court says after filing a motion for bond and entering an appearance for the client, Hardy made no other action on behalf of the client and she had to secure new counsel and had to post bond with the help of her family since Hardy had depleted her savings.

The client filed a grievance with the Georgia Bar Association in November 2021.

“Hardy did not respond to the grievance or to the Bar’s subsequent Notice of Investigation,” according to the document.

In another case, a client hired Hardy after getting in an automobile accident in August 2017.

“Over the next two years, Hardy failed to adequately communicate with her about the status of her case and also failed to communicate with her medical providers,” the court’s decision says.

After having to communicate with Hardy’s brother in July 2019 after not being able to reach him, the client didn’t hear from Hardy again until September 2019 when he informed her he was still working on her case, according to the court.

“The client heard nothing more about her case until November 4, 2019, when she received a letter from an insurance company informing her that the case had been settled on October 10, 2019,” the document says.

Hardy told the woman that the document she received from the insurance company was a “proposed release draft and dismissal” and said if she would accept “...between $7,000 and $10,000 for her case she could have a check within days,” according to court documents.

The court says that the woman then got in contact with the insurance company who said that Hardy had negotiated a check for a $15,000 settlement made payable to himself and the client when the client had not authorized Hardy to negotiate the check or sign her name.

“The client copied Hardy’s brother on the email and Hardy finally responded, denying any wrongdoing but offering to take no attorney fees from the settlement,” the document states.

Hardy then itemized the proposed payout of the settlement and listed three medical providers of which one had already been paid by the client and saying he’d retain $3,405.50 to pay those bills, according to the court.

The client later heard from two medical providers stating that no amount had been paid on her behalf and was put into debt collection by one provider and threatened with debt collection by the other medical provider before a $600 settlement, according to the document.

The client filed a grievance with the Bar in November 2021.

In the final case, the court says a client filed a grievance in October 2021 after paying Hardy $1500 in 2020 for representation where Hardy told the client that he would waive arraignment without the client needing to appear.

However, the arraignment was rescheduled several times without Hardy informing the client and Hardy failed to appear or tell the client he needed to appear, the court states. The infraction resulted in the court forfeiting the client’s bond and led to the court issuing a bench warrant for the client’s arrest, according to the document.

This story was originally published July 19, 2023 at 9:15 AM.