Lawyer is reprimanded for fourth time, this time over deposition conduct
A Virginia lawyer has been reprimanded once again for sarcastic behavior, this time over his conduct in a deposition.
The lawyer, John “Jack” Crandley of Virginia Beach, was publicly reprimanded on Oct. 1 in an agreed disposition for his actions at a May 2014 deposition, the Virginian-Pilot reports.
According to the state bar, Crandley referred to the case against his client as “crap,” and called the opposing lawyer’s position “nonsense” and “baloney.” He also “angrily and sarcastically” said, “I’m sorry if I hurt your feelings,” the bar alleged.
The case is the fourth public reprimand Crandley has received. The Virginian Pilot outlines Crandley’s past disciplinary troubles, citing state bar records. They are:
—In July 2000, a judge held Crandley in contempt and sentenced him to 10 days in jail because Crandley kept arguing about wanting to strike a potential juror on the ground he appeared “effeminate.”
—In another 2000 case, Crandley was sentenced to three days in jail for questioning witnesses in a “sarcastic, rude and demeaning manner.”
—In 2013, Crandley was held in contempt for questioning witnesses in a rude and sarcastic manner, and for shouting and advancing toward the bench with clenched fists.
Virginia State Bar counsel Edward Davis told the Virginian-Pilot that Crandley’s license could still be suspended for 90 days if his latest conduct is found to violate a five-year probation imposed in the 2013 case.
Crandley’s lawyer, Mike Joynes, told the Virginian-Pilot that Crandley is a tough lawyer who “fights with determination and vigor, and sometimes that ruffles feathers.” Joynes said he has himself had some “classic battles” when opposing Crandley in cases. “Things are said, and things are done, and toes get stepped on sometimes,” Joynes told the Virginian-Pilot.
