Unethical attorneys who violate the rules of Professional Conduct and state and federal code violations significantly threaten a law firm’s license and reputation. The cost of litigation defending complaints reaches hundreds of thousands of dollars. The other major threat is if the complaint is filed by a pro se litigant in the courts, who recognizes the facts of their case, has free time to conduct their research, and has a minimal filing fee to pay.
Such is the case with Julie S. Palmer and Michael Harman, partners with Harman Claytor Corrigan & Wellman, P.C., located in Richmond, Virginia, who are facing sanctions in Virginia’s Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court for their habitual unethical misconduct in court.
In Virginia, § 54.1-3937. Procedure for revocation of certificate of registration of professional law corporations allows “a complaint, verified by affidavit, filed by any person to a circuit court having jurisdiction where the alleged violation occurred, that any law corporation or professional limited liability company has willfully failed to comply with the applicable ethical standards of the Virginia Code of Professional Responsibility…”
On April 11, 2024, Nickolas Spanos, a pro se litigant, served a notice of his intention to file a verified complaint by affidavit with the circuit court for violating § 54.1-3937 to all the attorneys of Harman Claytor Corrigan & Wellman, P.C. The notice gave the law firm thirty (30) days to take “severe disciplinary measures” against Julie S. Palmer for her habitual violations of the Virginia Code of Professional Conduct (VCPC), Virginia and federal Codes, which include RICO violations. The Notice included evidence of Julie Palmer’s numerous violations in three sanctions filed in the CAV and SCV.
“Dear Harman Claytor Corrigan & Wellman, P.C,
I am giving you notice of my intention to file a complaint against your law firm pursuant to § 54.1-3937. Procedure for revocation of certificate of registration of professional law corporations.
Julie S. Palmer, Esq. has habitually violated the rules of the VCPC, Virginia, and Federal Codes in two cases in which she is opposing counsel.
I have attached a few Motions for Sanctions filed with the Court of Appeals and the SCV for your review.
As most of the HCCW partners are probably not aware of the criminal and civil liable actions of Julie Palmer, which include RICO violations, I intend to file a RICO civil claim against Julie Palmer and possibly your law firm.
Julie Palmer and Michael Harman have committed such severe extrinsic fraud upon the court that they not only bribe-influenced judges in my cases but are directly responsible for retired Judge Wilford Taylor's stroke in late February 2022, causing him severe disability. See SCV Motion for Sanctions
As I believe to be fair before filing any legal claim-complaint in the Courts, I am allowing you thirty (30) days to clean up this situation with Julie Palmer by taking severe disciplinary action and notifying me of such disciplinary measures.
Please note that ignoring this notice will not solve your law firm's problem but only make matters worse; my cases against Robert Freed should serve as a good example.”
Julie S. Palmer’s unethical misconduct was exposed in the City of Richmond Circuit Court, where she represented attorneys Robert L. Freed and Emily E. Kokie in Case No, CL21-4150 Spanos v. Freed et al. The case involved an ethics complaint filed by Spanos against Freed and Kokie, who conspired with their clients to defraud him of $1.3 million by defective service.
Palmer conspired with Freed and retired Judge Daniel T. Balfour to usurp the authority of the Virginia Supreme Court (SCV) by presiding over the case without being designated by the Chief Justice.
Spanos appealed to the Court of Appeals of Virginia (CAV), where he discovered that retired Judge Daniel T. Balfour had presided over two Spanos cases without the SCV's authority. Both instances involve Freed as the defendant and Julie Palmer as his counsel. The RVA court records show no designation order for retired Judge Daniel T. Balfour to preside over the cases CL21-4150 and CL23-2683.
Julie Palmer and her client, Robert Freed, face four sanctions filed in the CAV and SCV for numerous Virginia and federal code violations, which include:
1. 18 U.S. Code § 242- Deprivation of Rights under Color of Law.
2. Virginia Code § 18.2-481. Treason defined
3. Virginia Code § 18.2-482. Misprision of treason.
4. 18 U.S. Code § 1962- Prohibited activities (RICO Act)
5. 18 U.S. Code § 201 (b)(c) - Bribery of public officials
6. 18 U.S. Code § 1341 - Frauds and swindles
7. 18 U.S. Code § 1343 - Fraud by wire
8. 18 U.S.C. § 1503 Influencing an Officer
9. 18 U.S. Code § 1512 (c)(2) Tampering of a Witness,
10. 18 U.S.C. § 1513 (b) (1) Retaliating against a witness, victim, or an informant
Julie Palmer and her associate, Michael Harman, managing partner of Harman Claytor Corrigan & Wellman, P.C were caught in ex parte communications with retired Judge Wilford Taylor by having him reverse an order in separate cases (CL21005758, CL21005759, and CL21006572) of Spanos in Henrico County Circuit Court. Spanos discovered the ex parte communications and filed a Motion to Recuse Judge Wilford Taylor; shortly after filing the Motion, Judge Wilford Taylor suffered a stroke from the stress of being caught in Julie Palmer and Michael Harman’s corruption. See Julie Palmer's corruption causes stroke to Judge
Julie S. Palmer has begged the CAV and SCV to save her from Spanos's alleged “abusive behavior.” Spanos is exercising his constitutional rights to due process of law. Julie Palmer requested the CAV impose a pre-filing injunction on Spanos, but the CAV found no basis to grant her motion.
Julie Palmer could not justify her false statements and violations of § 8.01-271.1, signing of pleadings, motions, and other papers, and asked for a pre-filing injunction against Spanos in the SCV. Spanos countered by attacking Palmer and Freed, who now face additional sanctions in the SCV. See SCV Motion for Sanctions