I-Team: State Bar Disciplinary Review Board recommends Rockdale County Commissioner be disbarred
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 13 เม.ย. 2022
- by Dale Russell
Aired April 13, 2022
A FOX 5 I-Team Investigation has found a number of people have filed State Bar complaints against a local County Commissioner claiming they hired her as their lawyer, but she did no work on their cases.
The State Bar Disciplinary Review Board has recommended that Rockdale County Commissioner Sherri Washington be disbarred.
"I'm real mad. I'm furious mad. I want my money," Tracy Belcher said.
Belcher says she has good reason to be angry. In 2018 her parents, both diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, began wandering their neighborhood.
"They were walking up and down the street around people's houses. They didn't know no better," said Belcher.
Home health care workers filed a report with the Newton County Sheriff's office saying the couple had "dementia and were not fit to be left alone."
So, Tracy Belcher hired Sherri Washington, a lawyer who had successfully helped her on a previous legal matter to help her get guardianship of her parents.
Her lawyer is also Rockdale County Commissioner Sherri Washington. Belcher said she paid Washington $3000 to file a petition.
Reporter: "What did you get for the $3,000?"
Belcher: "I got nothing. Nothing. She didn't answer no phone calls. And, no nothing,"
Belcher filed a bar complaint saying Washington "did not do anything." She also sued Sherri Washington's law firm and when the case came to court, Washington "failed to appear" according to court records. A judge awarded Tracy $3,096.
It was August 2021. To date, she says she hasn't seen a penny.
"We don't have no money. And she's still sitting on the commission board getting paid, and we're out here suffering. I'm not understanding," said Belcher.
Reporter: "What do you say to Tracy Belcher?"
Commissioner Washington: "I wish her well."
The I-Team investigation found Tracy Belcher is far from alone.
"I was totally shocked at the case file. The size of it the detail of it, I had no idea," Dashawn Mayweather said when we showed her the State Bar Disciplinary investigation of Sherri Washington.
In 2017, Mayweather hired Sherri Washington to handle her divorce. She said she had a strong case. "Adultery" her "husband had fathered a child" with his girlfriend and "had taken nude photos and videos of Mayweather without her knowledge" according to the state bar investigation.
There was one big problem. When the case came to trial. Attorney Sherri Washington didn't tell her client and didn’t show up in court - not once but twice.
Mayweather didn't know about the missed trial dates until she looked the case up at the courthouse.
Mayweather discovered her attorney "did not appear" for trial. The Judge denied Dashawn any "spousal support" or any of her husband's "retirement, savings" and ordered her to pay his attorney fees- $5000.
Reporter: "What was your reaction?"
Mayweather: "I cried. I was in Fulton County courthouse and I cried. It was very hard to believe it was an open and shut case."
Mayweather ultimately sued Sherri Washington and won a judgment for $48,000 plus interest. To get paid, she had to garnish Washington's county commission salary.
FOX 5 tried to talk to Commissioner Washington, but she wouldn't respond to our questions.
In the bar complaint file, Washington’s lawyer argued she missed those trial dates because she didn’t receive "emails through the court system and due to administrative staffing difficulties."
Mayweather wasn't done. She filed a State Bar of Georgia compliant against Sherri Washington.
The I-Team examined all 286 pages and found two more of Washington’s clients filed bar complaints. The bar found Washington "did nothing" in one case and "took no action" in the other.
In the case file, Commissioner Washington said she "did not have any record" of the client paying her for legal work l work, and in another case she claimed she had a "serious car accident" and "sustained a concussion that caused her failure to communicate."
The court file also shows the State disciplined Washington 5 different times dating back to 2011.
"I want to say I’m furious. I’m just, it's hurtful to think about the other people that that’s going through this and I mean, I had no idea that there were others. …I mean my heart goes out to them," said Mayweather.
After an exhaustive investigation a State Bar Disciplinary Review Board found Commissioner Washington "failed to take any action to protect the interests of her clients" failed "to appear in court" and failed to "refund fees which were not earned."
The recommendation: disbarment.
Sherri Washington refused to talk about the cases. So, Dashawn Mayweather and Tracy Belcher, gave the closing arguments.
"Why should she get to sit on a commission board and get a salary and not pay the people she took from," said Washington.
Reporter: "What’s the worst part of all of it?"
Mayweather: "Having to relive it and seeing business going on as usual as if it never happened."
The Supreme Court is expected rule soon.
I'm petty. I would show up at every commission meeting and at every public comment i would talk about the money she owed me and her malpractice. I'd make the entire commission annoyed til they had to get rid of her.
THIS was my exact thought!
Yes ma’am!
She obviously disrespects people, the courts and the law. Put her out!
Ha, put her out? We know why she still has her job, now don’t we.
@@MyThoughts-56 I'm so sorry about your Mom, I ate mine too and it's very hard. I hope that whenever she/her/it see's a documentary like this or one of Ted Bundy's films it makes you smile too remembering your Momma.
NO, LOCK HER UP FOR THEFT , DECEIT AND BREACH OF CONTRACT. PEACE&LUV
Terminate her immediately. SMH
She didn’t think these clients would do anything. Well, guess what? Thank goodness the did! And them and others may get their justice!
Private judging, did u know it’s a thing? They will have a private divorce court session at 11pm at night and an expensive rate unaccounted for.
Another crooked public servant taking advantage of her position, hope she gets fired and civilly liable, accountability it’s a must…
This is so maddening! People are paying this woman for legal services that she’s not rendering, how in the hell is she allowed to still retain her legal license? If this isn’t a case for disbarment I don’t know what is!
100% agree !!
She pissed me off talking about I wish her well. Wtf does that mean? She could’ve at least said I’ll return her money. 😡
Exactly, like where tf is my 3k?
She don’t have it to return it
They need to tell Sherri like cardi said “I wish you well….In HELL😂😂😂😂”
Me too I was literally screaming at the screen smh
This is a great example of how a system can be unchecked and allowed to run without any additional consequences.
Very well said 👍🏾💯💥
Yes!! Especially our adoption system. Too many of those children go ‘missing’. I pray for them everyday
So true; the movie I saw about this crazy stuff was more accurate than I thought
@@registame2878 I'm so sorry about your Mom, I ate mine too and it's very hard. I hope that whenever she/her/it see's a documentary like this or one of Ted Bundy's films it makes you smile too remembering your Momma.
@@saminaneen they definitely do come with bolts. Nice try though
Wow she needs to be held responsible for acting as a lawyer but never doing lawyer work
Stunned 🙄 to go through law school, pass the bar and take an oath serve...At least give them their money back!!! Theft by taking! Disbarment is the only way.
I think they should have been rewarded more money than they received.
These cases were very important to the clients and traumatic results from Washington's failure to represent or even hire an intern to get courtroom experience.
Can't be trusted in ANY position. Not sure how the County can let her work as a Commissioner, even if it is separate professions? If you don't have integrity, you just failed as a person. Based on this report, get her out of public service!!!
She is a disgrace
Remember who has the last word and see all. Shame on you 😕
Damn wtf 😳😬 this lady is a crook. This is a pattern clearly smh 🤦🏽♂️
exactly, where are the criminal charges beyond the disbarment?
Well, that is why she went into government! It's not like honest people are in government.
That lady at 3:44 in the elevator looked at her with disgust after she heard what the reporter had said 😂🤣😭😩
I loved it!
That's commissioner Dorenn Williams
Yes another commissioner on the same board she just as bad
I HOLLEREDDD!!! 😂😂😂
THERE ARE MANY MORE WHO NEED TO BE DISBARRED. PEACE&LUV
It be your own people to cross you smh, especially when they have big time positions smh!!
So glade to see something is finally done. She worked on our case for while, and it was the worst experience ever. Still waiting on her to mail back important documents.
Sounds like someone is covering for Washington!!
Yea, the ws system she serves. But trust and believe as soon as she stops acting in their best interest they will get rid of her her days are numbered
Come through Ms. Mayweather. Handle your busyness. You inspire me.
Look, she was like "I know you got my money!" GARNISHMENT OF WAGES!!!
This is how all people with government jobs act, maybe not at first but once they see how everyone else gets by with it they join in !
Clients of lawyers have to be PROACTIVE. They can’t just sign a contract and not contact their lawyer for updates. 🇺🇸
Not all.
There are thousands of Civil service jobs Roger Lopp. This is certainly not the norm, thank God!
This is sad but this happens everywhere. People that do this to their clients should be held accountable and pay back all the money they took from their innocent clients. The clients thinking their getting a good lawyer to find out their a con artist.
Doesn't surprise me. April Dabney Froe stole $80, 000 from my family and the GA system did nothing. This happens often in GA. Richard Merritt was another dirty lawyer. I wish someone one would get me my money. I've had several surgeries on top of having to deal with these dirty lawyers.
Wait! I thought everyone was too oppressed to hold any type of power???
@@Ontheroxxwithsalt who’s exercising cower. They’re exercising incompetence and unprofessionalism but what fucking power are they possessing? Your comment is asinine as hell
Good for her! This Poor Lady needs to go protest her at every commission meeting! Those meetings are open to the public!
*Just imagine going to school to become a lawyer only to be corrupt lawyer... SMH 🤦♂️🤦♂️*
She sounds like that attorney in Kentucky who was prosecutor but got fired because she lied to the judge about evidence. Then she became a defenseive attorney and was held in contempt for disrespecting the judge and her client.
Did she really go to law school? Maybe that should be looked into
What Law School did that Hack go to? No way she's qualified in any way to be an Attorney
BYU = back yard university 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
"I wish her well" wow lady. There's a nice spot in a very hot place for you
Damn crook has a present case against my homegirl! She claims to be an advocate for women while legally representing men who are abusers!
She’s trifling.
THIS LAWYER HAS BEEN TRASH ALL HER LIFE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
the system needs better checks and balances.
She did receive an email of the court date , that’s awhole lie.
Attorneys put things like this on their calendar
I live here in Newton county
Get rid of her!!!!!!!! Dammmmmm
Is anyone really surprised?! Quit trusting these people.
$3,096.00 to file a petition.. this lady betta 🏃♀️ Ms. Belcher her 💰. That lady is off thr ⛓
Disbarment is not satisfactory, what about Fraud!
I laughed a little when the reporter had her cornered on the elevator with 2 other people. He was asking her about the case and the two other women just kinda looked at her like what?
I saw that too. They both looked at her like WTF.
Shout out to these 2 brave women who reported this fraudulent heifer. I unfortunately had to experience her fraud and antics because my abusive Ex hired her to take everything from me except my child and the marital debt and unbeknownst to me paid my atty off to ensure that it went as planned. Everyone chalked me up as crazy or emotional when I spoke of the things she / they did .. Glad I lived and survived long enough to see her get exposed. #Karma
Immediate removal is best for this County to regain credibility for its constituents
She’s in a nice cushy position in government now, so she doesn’t care about being disbarred. It’s a salaried, high paying and forgivable of mistakes.
Why aren’t any of these things crimes? How many times can you take someone’s money on the condition of work and do nothing before before it’s called fraud
You obviously don't know anything about county commisioner positions.
@@kcook8119 I know you get voted in but I know you usually have to do something egregious to lose the position because most people don’t keep up with who’s county commissioner or what they do. Most people re-elect current commissioners or vote along party lines. So as long as that county stays her current political party and she doesn’t do something like embezzle money she’s good.
@@darius318 -- I live in Rockdale County and I can assure you that I fully support her being impeached from her current position. She should also be prosecuted for fraud.
She will be the perfect senate/house candidate for the democrat party…she will fit right in.
She wish her well?! What type of sh*t is that?
That was cold blooded.
After stealing her money. How is an attorney allowed to miss court???? Disbar her. And she's still on the commission board? Disgusting!
@@udntknomeXX I'm so sorry about your Mom, I ate mine too and it's very hard. I hope that whenever she/her/it see's a documentary like this or one of Ted Bundy's films it makes you smile too remembering your Momma.
This woman needs to be thrown off the commissioners court or whatever her position is. But no, there she sits getting paid. Obscene!
What's the difference between what she had done and theft by deception? This is stealing on a felony level which should land her in jail if the people were doing their jobs because she need to be stopped.
This seems to be happening more and more often. More and more lawyers are corrupt and nothing if anything is being done to them, if anything people should be terrified that this went on as long as it did.
She needs to me fired and faced with possible jail time
Jail time? LMAO. Nope. Disbarring is find. You clearly don't know the law.
@@KayDejaVu I'm so sorry about your Mom, I ate mine too and it's very hard. I hope that whenever she/her/it see's a documentary like this or one of Ted Bundy's films it makes you smile too remembering your Momma.
@@KayDejaVu -- She could face charges of fraud. If you can't see that then you simply don't know the law.
This is a shame! I am being harassed by my small town , because I filed harassment charges against well know, small family business. No one will listen to me. Harassing by my local community
I hope the first lady sees this, and starts garnishing.
i'd be looking at the law firm condoning & continuing to hire her as a lawyer, she has NO! regard for the law!🤔🤨🤔
She has her own law practice, the Washington Law Group.
It's her law firm named Washington Law firm
There was a lawyer in my area she was a popular lawyer and she was good. She was a lawyer for years. As she got older she wanted to help youth so she became a judge in juvenile court and closed her practice. About a year later a complaint was made to the Georgia bar because of her not representing her client as she should have and was paid. She didn’t respond to notice of discipline so since there was no response she was disbarred. She didn’t appeal decision either and since she was no longer licensed she could not serve as a judge.
She's out here frauding people, not paying them back, but she's sitting on the board of commissions? Even though that's separate issues, a fraudster shouldn't be on the board of commissions!
I pray by the time I see this she is disbarred. Her arrogance is so overwheming.....
How many times can you get in trouble with the State bar association before they yank their license to practice law?
Ms. Dashawn Mayweather should sue the state bar for not executing their responsibilities and literally giving license to lawyer to run loose and fast.
Very disheartening is what it is..
No integrity but sitting on the Commission Board??
we all know what happens when someone gets disbarred. they become Secretary of State.
The state bar should be investigated.
Garnish her wages!!! You have a judgement and you know where she works!
So entitled. How does she live with herself? These are ‘bottom feeder’ actions. Disbar her, jail her and remove her from the commission board. Despicable!!
Guilty as hell.
Yeah she definitely deserves to be disbarred, disbanded, dismissed! 🤔🤳🏾💭 I have no sympathy for the BS for people like this so called attorney/commissioner has done there's no excuse for ignorance! Play a stupid a** game win a stupid a** prize so congratulations commissioner ya played ya self 🏆 😏
I feel for those people and I hope they are suitably compensated I recal my neighbour downstairs who I'd find wandering out in the street as she was confused where her home was, she'd look so scared and vulnerable, I didn't get on with her adult kids, but you can't kick peops when they are down, though my mum coincidentally had the same diagnosis she didn't wander off luckily!! Her kids were really scared and I get that, it's so worrying.
Did Ms. Mayweather get to appeal the ruling in her case?
Lol. Guess she’s not even communicating with herself.
@@vickiegoss2931 I'm so sorry about your Mom, I ate mine too and it's very hard. I hope that whenever she/her/it see's a documentary like this or one of Ted Bundy's films it makes you smile too remembering your Momma.
Well, what in the 🌎 did she go to law 🏫 for?. Smh
She probably didn’t
These people always pray on their community the needy the uneducated and they take their money and do nothing for them this is a great send to humanity!
The clients appear to be neither needy nor uneducated. They paid their legal fees, and filed suit when they were defrauded. The first woman was taking the necessary steps to safeguard both of her parents. What part of any of that reads needy or uneducated?
Attend next Board meeting Rockdale County Board of Commissioners
Work Session: Tuesday, May 3, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. - Assembly Hall located at 901 Main Street, Conyers, Georgia 30012
Lock her up ! The State bar is woke.
Her privilege made her feel untouchable. Yet, here we are.
WOW! I just don't understand!!!!
Time for street justice.
my god can anyone become a lawyer in Atlanta??? WTF is going on! she got her JD from Texas Southern University
What a awful person to do this to people.
(5:35) _"Whats the worse part of all of it?"_
Dashawn: _"Knowing that nigga got away with not paying me spousal-support!!!...I mean, uh..."_ 🤭😭😭
Lmbo why did I think I missed that and rewound lmbo
@@ka8204 -Nah, but thats what she _wanted_ to say.😂
That's just one!!! Lawyer ..can u imagine.. 😩 God is truly handing down justice ⚖️ for the "unjust"
Crooks comes in all forms!!
I hope 🙏these people get their justice
Get receipt for payment AND AND get itemized bill ..how much time they spent on your case , trips to court house etc
What a disgrace
This is why i try my damnest to stay away from lawyers like the plaque. Ive Been had two (yes at least 2) many times.
Check reviews on these lawyers before hiring these records are also public records
Yes 🙌 I reported to state bar star bar did nothing to whom do I complain to?
I thought the Commissioners in Rockdale County we're supposed to be residents in Rockdale?
She was to practice law in Fulton County if that's what you are referring.
@@truelife974 No I am referring to Rockdale County's rule that a Commissioner must reside in the county to serve
@@lenoralewis7005 She lives with her relatives in Rockdale County but doesn't own a house.
This is awful. Glad you're out here keeping these people honest I-Team!
Disbarred her, she was lazy and Greedy and she needs to fired!!!!!!
When someone goes to all the work of getting a law degree & passes the bar, why would you then not practice law? Makes me wonder how good of lawyer she really is.
A judge that is COMPLETELY corrupt. What a surprise.
Sheri hair isn’t even done for work. Smh! A shame!
Get a Court Order and Attach Her WAGES !
Sold herself out!
the lady pretending to type on her laptop for the B roll is cracking me up 🤣
There's a lawyer here in Virginia that needs to be disbarred for being unethical and a racist I filed a complaint an nothing happened
This is horrible
I'd like to know why, after being sanctioned 5 times, the state didn't move to disbar her long ago! I believe they are culpable for all the cases after her 5th sanction! They should be required to pay these women back, because it's obvious, she won't do it.
She's a lawyer, and knew her responsibility to her clients. The way she looked when you tried to ask her questions, SEEMS TO INDICATE, she's on illegal drugs, or she's abusing prescribed narcotics (she's the only one who could answer that question) Since she's taking her clients money, it would look like she's buying illegal drugs! I believe she should be required to take a drug test. This is just speculation, on my part, by seeing how she looked and acted, when you were trying to ask her questions.
You know exactly why she wasn’t fired. Just can’t say it
She’s triffiling.
Sounds like this is coming to a head and it'll finally be resolved.🤞
Sad… She should be healed fully accountable
June 25, 2022 Rockdale County Commissioner Sherri Washington was disbarred by the Georgia Supreme Court stating she knowingly violated her duties to three different clients, which resulted in serious or potentially serious harm to all three. However, it appears that she is still the Rockdale County Commissioner. Wow.
Wow. Reminds me of a lawyer that my husband had as a client. My husband worked on his car for a couple small things then he wanted the engine changed. This is a huge job. He refused to pay saying there were issues. He told my husband point blank, don’t try to fight or I’ll sue you and own your shop. My husband later found out from a couple other clients this is what he did. He’d screwed landscapers and a plumber out of thousands by threatening to sue them for “poor” work if they tried to get paid. He later ran for some kind of office but lost thankfully
I'm a landscaper, I used to accidentally cut down people's bushes when they refused to pay me.
@@ghostofreagan3181dig up what they didn’t pay for. Just saw a video of a landscaper doing the same. Rocks and all.
Wow 😯 You wish her well, After taking her $3000 and not doing anything for her !!!! Clown 🤡
Damn that lady got screwed in her divorce.
How do people like this get into positions like that???? Heck, are they hiring??? I'm tired of working hard. I want a job I can be lazy at. Where should I sign up???
how about trump and republicans? trump cheated so much that why is he free? go look at how republicans communicated to lie about the election!
@@teehee8101 Are they hiring??? I ASKED HOW DO I GET INTO POSITIONS LIKE THIS???? Who gives a damn if its with republicans?!!! So since you know so much ARE THEY HIRING??? 🤡