Crandall, who co-chairs Detroit-based Clark Hill's White Collar Criminal Defense and Internal Investigations Practice Group, filed a motion yesterday (July 20) in U. S. District Court seeking to withdraw as Ingersoll's counsel.
And the reason?
Even those practicing the world's second-oldest profession like to get paid.
Crandall asserted in his motion that Ingersoll “has refused to provide Clark Hill with adequate security to pay for legal fees already incurred, which is a necessary prerequisite for Clark Hill’s continued representation in this matter.”
Under Michigan's Rules of Professional Conduct, a lawyer may withdraw from representing a client if “the client fails substantially to fulfill an obligation to the lawyer regarding the lawyer’s services and has been given reasonable warning that the lawyer will withdraw unless the obligation is fulfilled.”
The Michigan Rules of Professional Conduct also allow an attorney to withdraw if “the representation will result in an unreasonable financial burden or has been rendered unreasonably difficult by the client.”
Unreasonably difficult? Not Steve Ingersoll?!
The motion reveals that although Crandall served as Ingersoll’s criminal defense attorney since before his April 10, 2014 indictment was issued (reportedly working on a plea deal), and continued to serve in that role through trial and through some post-trial motion practice, the Clark Hill has not been paid for any work performed in 2015.
In yesterday's motion, Crandall asserted he “raised the issue of payment of past-due billings directly with Ingersoll on multiple occasions.” After trying to squeeze liquidity from his sponge of a client, Crandall finally had enough.
I'M WOINING YOU! SOITENLY! NYUK, NYUK, NYUK!
Ingersoll did not respond.
But Ingersoll will not be left without counsel, as co-trial counsel
Jan Geht will remain his attorney of record.
As Miss Fortune exclusively reported February 28, Geht provided his client with access to a $250,000 line of credit secured by seven of Ingersoll's most desirable Bay City properties just days before the start of Ingersoll's federal fraud trial — with Geht's representative officially registering the "future advance mortgage" with the Bay County Register of Deeds on February 10 as Ingersoll's jury was being selected.
The Perry House, located at 2230 Center Avenue in Bay City, is among the seven residential and commercial properties securing the collateral interest of Geht and his Traverse City-based law firm, Bowerman, Bowden, Ford, Clulo & Luyt, which funded the $250,000 mortgage.
In addition to the Perry House, Ingersoll's personal residence at 1514 Center Avenue in Bay City's Center Avenue Historic District and the Webster House Bed & Breakfast are two of the more stellar properties included.
It's Roy and Tammy Bradley's daughter, Kristy.