Lawyer Is Charged with Stealing from Law Firm He Founded
A Tennessee lawyer has been charged with stealing from his Knoxville law firm in an indictment made public on Thursday.
Charles Edward “Eddie” Daniel was charged with theft and forgery, the Knoxville News Sentinel reports. He is accused of taking money that belonged to his firm, Daniel, Pemberton, Scott & Scott, between October 2004 and June 2009. Daniel is a founder of the law firm.
The indictment follows a civil suit that claimed Daniel deposited at least $240,000 in law firm checks into his personal bank account, and may have stolen as much as $600,000.
Daniel’s lawyer, Wade Davies, released a statement saying his client intends to fight the charges and show he is not guilty of any crime. “It is important to note the presentment does not allege that any clients were deprived of funds,” Davies said. “The issues, as we understand them, center around disputes over dividing legal fees.”
