Attorney Charles Scott of Ft. Payne, AL; ethical troll

The state of Alabama presented Charles McCracken Scott with a law license in 1991 after he graduated from the University of Alabama School of Law.

The Alabama State Bar Association found Charlie guilty of the following misconduct.

• Engaged in a conflict of interest
• Failed to communicate with client
• Charged and/or collected an excessive fee (cheater)
• Failed to decline/terminate representation when required to so act
• Engaged in conduct that adversely reflects on his fitness to practice law
• Engaged in conduct that is prejudicial to the administration of justice
• Failed to communicate basis or rate of fee in probate matter
• Failed to obtain a written fee agreement authorizing him to assume representation on a contingency fee basis
• Filed a claim against client’s estate for attorney’s fees, claiming $12,000 to $18,000 in legal fees, and reserved the right to claim additional fees for services
• performed after the date of the claim
• Requested a lien secured by real property of the estate owned by the deceased at the time of her death
• Failed to inform the executor of the estate of his intention to file a claim against the estate in the amount of $12,000 to $18,000. by seeking a lien on the real property of the estate, an action that was adverse to the estate and his clients
• Conduct in claiming to an excessive attorney’s fee unnecessarily delayed the closing of the estate and caused unnecessary expense to the estate

As a direct consequence of his misconduct, the cheerleaders for Attorney Misfits sitting on the Statewide Grievance Committee punished Charlie by gifting him with a complimentary 91-day suspension of his law license.

As we speak (ca. June 2020), Charlie practices in Fort Payne, Alabama.