The Utah Supreme Court has backed a five-year disbarment for Salt Lake attorney Lynn Charles Spafford, accused of sending settlement checks that bounced to a half dozen clients.
Spafford, 38, offered to voluntarily resign from the Utah State Bar but contended he should be disbarred only for two years, instead of facing the standard five-year waiting period to re-apply to the bar.The high court denied his request and decided that Spafford will face the usual five-year ban if he proceeds with his offer to resign, said his attorney, Jerome Mooney.
Six cases in which Spafford allegedly gave clients $120,000 in bad checks are before the courts. Another 11 cases are pending. Now, Spafford can either resign - under conditions set by the justices - or continue to fight those discipline cases in court.