Board Recommends Disbarment of Lawyer Who Pocketed Settlement Checks

A disciplinary board is recommending disbarment of a Columbus lawyer who it says cashed clients’ workers’ compensation settlement checks and spent the money on personal expenses. The Board of Professional Conduct says Brian Harter usually would delay turning money over to his clients, and often cashed their checks without their knowledge. In one instance, he told a client that $3,500 in cash from his settlement was stolen from his car. He did not explain how he had obtained the client’s signature to cash the check, but records showed that he had cashed numerous settlem...