Monday, September 16, 2002
Page 3
Lawyer Leonard Samuels Arrested on Grand Theft Charges
By a MetNews Staff Writer
Arraignment is scheduled this morning for Los Angeles attorney Leonard M. Samuels, who was arrested Friday on suspicion of grand theft arising from his representation of one of his clients.
Prosecutors allege that Samuels, 55, represented a woman in a medical malpractice case and obtained a settlement, but kept the nearly $200,000 for himself.
Samuels was taken into custody at 11:30 a.m. Friday by Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office investigators, according to county records. The arrest took place at his downtown office at 445 S. Figueroa St. Bail was set at $130,000.
Samuels is due to be arraigned at 8:30 a.m. in Div. 30.
The State Bar of California investigated Samuels and assisted the District Attorney’s Office in preparing the case.
The case is being handled by the Justice System Integrity Division, a special unit created by District Attorney Steve Cooley to crack down on lawyers, judges and law enforcement officers who violate their public trust.
Samuels has no public record of professional discipline in California, according to State Bar records. He has been a State Bar member since 1992.
Samuels is a graduate of University of West Los Angeles School of Law.
Copyright 2002, Metropolitan News Company