A disbarred attorney that formerly practiced in Davis was sentenced to jail and probation for swindling $50,000 from a client, according to a September 3 announcement by the Yolo County District Attorney’s Office.
The former attorney, Hal Erwin Wright, 59, allegedly embezzled money forged checks in connection with a 2010 case he’d been hired to handle by Steve Isaacson, founder of the Davis Musical Theatre Company, who was injured in a fall at a Sacramento theater. Subsequently, Isaacson had to undergo several surgical procedures to help him heal his injuries.
But Wright never filed the lawsuit. Instead, he settled the case out of court without informing Isaacson he had done so. Receiving a check for $40,000 in the settlement, Wright forged Isaacson’s name to endorse it and pocketed the entire amount for his own use, the District Attorney’s office reported.
Over the next two years, after forging the settlement check, Wright repeatedly told Isaacson that his case was proceeding through the courts. Wright even embellished his deception to the point where he sent sham demands for further information to the Isaacson. He told Isaacson the information was needed by an insurance company.
Wright also cashed for himself a check for $15,000 that had been issued to DMTC because it was named as a beneficiary in a patron’s will. Isaacson did not find out about this embezzlement until 2013 when he had another attorney.
In announcing Wright’s plea agreement, the Yolo D.A. stated that Yolo Superior Court Judge Samuel McAdam had sentenced Wright to 180 days in the county jail and three years of felony probation. Wright will have to pay restitution in an amount yet to be determined by the court.
Wright was disbarred in May and no longer can practice law in the State of California.
