Richard Merritt was no stranger to a courtroom. He had spent the better part of his life as

a so-called ambulance chaser, going after medical malpractice claims for clients who trusted

him. He had become very successful with his own practice.

Richard and his wife, Jeanine, had two children, both in private school. Jeanine was a veterinarian

in the local area of Smurna, Georgia. The family enjoyed luxurious vacations and expensive

cars. Richard was as successful as one could hope, but by 2017 the family's house of cards

came tumbling down. That's when Richard was accused of stealing $75,000 from a client. He

voluntarily surrendered his license and was disbarred the following year. In 2019, things got worse.

The once polished attorney was now the one seated at a defense table, represented by council of his

own, as he faced 34 counts of theft, forgery, and exploitation. The small town rumor mill started to

churn, and Richard's picturesque life crumbled. Jeanine decided to file for divorce, and Richard

moved in with his mother, Shirley Merritt. Shirley had been Richard's biggest supporter, even giving

him money to help start his own practice, and eventually bailing him out of jail on a $450,000

bond. Jeanine, on the other hand, pleaded with the judge in the case to keep Richard behind bars.

I'm in financial ruin. He's squandered every cent we have, she said. Richard pleaded guilty to

all counts, of stealing money from his elderly clients, taking their funds and conducting bank

account fraud. His attorney, David Willingham, defended him. My client did not set out in his legal

career with evil intentions, or with a plan to become a thief, liar, and deceiver, he said.

He developed into that person slowly over time, and under the pressure, stress, and anxiety

associated with practicing law, as well as an addiction to alcohol. A Cobb County judge

sentenced Richard to 15 years in prison, and 15 years on probation. He was also ordered to pay

more than $450,000 in restitution back to his clients. The judge gave him two weeks before he

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