A Florida lawyer has disappeared while owing people more than $200,000, the Bar says
The phone numbers for Seminole lawyer Christopher Reynolds, including the number at Chris Reynolds Law, draw busy signals or no answers. And, according to the Florida Bar, the firm’s trust accounts have $101 combined. Meanwhile, Reynolds owes clients and medical care providers $211,970.
That in addition to the 11 Bar disciplinary matters from client and medical provider complaints — the Bar says Reynolds has completely ignored at least eight Bar inquiries — are why the state Supreme Court granted the Bar’s request for emergency suspension of the personal injury attorney.
“[Reynolds] has misappropriated client funds and/or failed to safekeep client property,” the Bar application for emergency suspension said. “[Reynolds] has abandoned his practice and clients and has failed to take reasonable steps to communicate with his clients in order to ensure the clients’ interests are protected.”
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Clients uniting on Facebook
The last post on Reynolds’ professional Facebook page — “one of the Burg’s most trusted personal injury lawyers” — showed the hills of Asheville, North Carolina. The last photos? Of a mountain bike, in the volume of a new parent showing off a baby. The last comments? From angry former clients bonding and an ex-wife, Heather Miller, now a realtor in North Carolina.
“Well Chris — because you couldn’t be bothered to electronically sign divorce paperwork or show up to the default hearing today I had to get a default issued and now I have to wait 10 days plus because the judge is on vacation on 10th day,” the former Heather Reynolds posted on Dec. 12. “So, I had to get a hearing after the New Year to finally be divorced from you and this nightmare can end. So, if holding me hostage through the holidays and into the New Year was your goal, congratulations. You need to man up and face the problems problems you have created and what you’ve done to me and others.
“If you should feel so inclined to make this right, contact my attorney and ask her what you need to sign electronically stating that you’re waiving the 10 days so I can get next Friday and be done with you before the new year.”
On Dec. 20, St. Petersburg’s Ivette Waller said, “My insurance paid him $10,000 for his client but he kept the money. Now, his client is asking my insurance to pay the money again or he will go after me.”
Shay Peters, who said Reynolds ripped her off to the tune of $110,000, posted on Dec. 14, “My next call is to (Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office) to see if anything can be done to freeze personal assets before the divorce.”
This story was originally published January 5, 2023 at 1:25 PM.
