By Walter F. Roche Jr.
Without explanation, Metro government has abruptly dropped attempts to consolidate cases stemming from the theft of some $1 million by a disbarred and currently imprisoned Nashville attorney.
In motions filed this week, Metro lawyers asked to withdraw pending motions to merge two cases now in probate court with separate but related suits in circuit court.
All four cases stem from the admitted theft by John E. Clemmons in probate cases in which he had been charged with safeguarding their funds.
The opposing attorney, Paul Gontarek, had countered charging that the consolidation would only further slow the process of winning some restitution for the victims, the estate of William C. Link and Donald Griggs, who was placed in a conservatorship under Clemmons.
Gontarek, who was named as Clemmons' successor in both cases by Probate Judge David "Randy" Kennedy, had filed motions in the two probate cases to have Clemmons declared in default for not even responding to the suits
Gontarek said in his latest motion that keeping the cases in probate court would not increase Metro's potential liabilities, $505,907.19 in the Link case and $157,050 in the Griggs case.
Clemmons has admitted to stealing $771,009 from the Link family and $172,506.35 from Griggs. He also entered guilty pleas in two other theft cases, one in Davidson County and the other in Rutherford County.
Overall he admitted to stealing well over $1 million.
With the Metro motions withdrawn, default judgments are likely to be issued against Clemmons and Gontarek has stated he will then seek to find any available assets.
Contact:wfrochejr999@gmail.com
Saturday, August 15, 2015
Default Judgments Sought In Probate Cases
By Walter F. Roche Jr.
A court appointed attorney is asking a Davidson Probate judge to issue default judgments against John E. Clemmons, a disbarred Nashvil
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