West Virginia. Hear Ye! Hear Ye!
From the Mountain State, disbarred attorney Donald Cookman, age 41, has been charged with forgery and embezzlement stemming from his manufacturing judgments totalling approximately $1.1 million and “misappropriating” $180,000 from several clients. Prosecutors are alledging that Cookman forged the signature of Mineral County Circuit Court Judge Andrew Fry on his phony judgements.
After being charged, Cookman was released on his own recognizance. EvilEsq has received unconfirmed reports Cookman was at a cricket match in Antigua over the weekend but the photos are a bit grainy.
Cookman consented to the revocation of his drinking privledges at the West Virginia bar in February.
We have some questions. First, was the $180k Cookman is accused of stealing from clients, money they thought they were entitled to as a result of his forged judgments? Second, was this Cookman’s first brush with the bar? Third, how does the bar expect Cookman to pay restitution to his client victims if he can’t practice law? Hopefully he had professional liability insurance.
He has wronged so many people.It will be interesting to see if he gets the same time and treatment since his dad is the local judge here in the county. He really is a snake and will do anything to anyone to get what he wants. No concious whatsoever.. Also, he claims to be an alcoholic„,don’t believe it. It was set up by him for an alibi of his actions. I have known him for years, been around him alot and know this alcohol problem is a cover. Hope he gets what he deserves.
To all mountaineers,
WV laws do not require insurance to practice law. Conduct your serious affairs with someone who will gladly provide a letter of insurance. It is a standard requirement in any other type contract with a consumer. Call and verify coverage, ask if any claims pending, expiration date…
I’ve know him for years too. He has done some really bad things. So has his wife, wife’s girlfriend, and wife’s girlfriend’s husband. We ALL have a lot of anger over things that have taken place and its very easy to blame someone else for your problems. I’m through with that and I’m sure if you’re reading this you need to be too. My brother will get what’s coming to him; its a real shame others that ONCE were involved probably wont…or maybe they will…only time will tell. I just know I’m happy to not have to see his wife for even a half hour at Christmas time…and I never have to spend half of my family vacation with the their “friends”. I’ve know all of them for years and they’ve ALL caused a lot of pain. btw my brother was/is an alcoholic. I’m not making excuses for him…I’m just telling you the truth. My father is an honest man with CLASS. btw way conscious is spelled with an s.
He may have wronged many people BUT he is in the process of “Righting the Wrongs” — I know for a fact because I am a former client(and now friend)who has received Restitution (paid in full. I don’t normally participate in these types of threads BUT I feel there needs to be a balance of opinions.
btw, Don is a recovering alcoholic and I wish people would understand that alcoholism IS a disease, NOT simply a weakness of willpower. My brother was an alcoholic, I say “was” because he died from his disease at the age of 42. Once people truly understand addiction (no matter what type)they will understand that “Addiction is when your problem not only interferes with your life,but the lives of those around you”. I tell people that I’ve come into to contact with that I’ve learned to separate the Addiction from the Person. My Brother was a good person – his Addiction changed his personality, impaired his judgment and ultimately took his life — I get angry at the Addiction – not my Brother.
I wish the best for Don’s family and his “true” friends because I’m sure this scandal has turn their lives upside down. Peace, Love & Respect! Mary D.
Romney is so full of the “good ole boys”, they need to get rid of the whole crooked judicial system. From the Family Court right up to Circuit Court. The only people in Romney that are worth anything seem to be the Magistrates. Good luck getting anywhere in that cesspool with a case.
Hey, I am going to law school and taking the WV bar—what a great way to get easy money!!!!! This guy finally went to court about his wrong-doings–and got NOTHING!!!! What a plea agreement—What a crock!!! Every other lawyer should be offended by this and every citizen of WV should be ENRAGED!!! If I stole a candy bar from a store, I would get more than this!!! 12–24 months at a half-way house—but I thought he was clean and sober—that is what he tells everyone around town. And the victims who agreed to this plea agreement—you have victimized yourselves all over again and victimized every other law abiding professional in the State. Shame on all of you!!!! I bet Donald Cookman will be practicing law again by 2011 and we’ll see who the real fools are then–the people that go to him for legal services. He has taken close to $1 million dollars–none of which is acccounted for —and will have to spend 12 months in Wheeling at a half-way house. When he is done–all that money (wherever he has it stashed) will be there for him. What a career move.…and people say he is stupid. Guess again.
I don’t think you have your story straight WV Lawyer want-a-be. First of all, it is not a done deal. The judge has not sentenced him to anything yet. Yes, there is a plea agreement that all of the victims have signed. I would rather he be working and paying the victims back rather than me paying taxes to keep him in jail. You have been sadly misinformed.
I hope he gets what he deserves. i worked for his father for a few years and his father is a liar and two faced. he didn’t have the cojones to fire me himself. he let one of his “lacky’s” do it. Then he kept me from getting another job by telling every employer i interviewed with that i was a horrible employee. BTW, he told me to my face i was doing a good job 3 days before i was fired. i hope his son gets some jail time. the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree
Don lives in a half-way house in Wheeling, WV. He currently attends and outpatient rehab for his alleged chemical addiction. In addition, the douche bag is dating a woman that left her fiancé for him. I heard, through the grapevine, that the woman he is dating has been in Alcoholics Anonymous for awhile; a failed out DC wannabe. Rumor has it that everyone she has newly dated has been in rehab or fresh out of rehab. Again, he’s a douche.
I’m gonna guess your last name is Calvert, Hott, or Wiley. Usually people that have something to hide have the most trouble letting go. I’m also amazed that we’re both paying this much attention to another human being…kind of exciting and habitual…almost like addiction?