Disbarred Lawyer Turns Himself In On Grand Theft Charges

A disbarred Sarasota personal injury lawyer turned himself in today on eight counts of grand theft, allegedly victimizing a World War II veteran among others.

Scott Schieb arrived at headquarters for the charges, having bilked $200,000 from victims, according to the police department. 

Schieb was being investigated for seven months following his disbarment from the Florida Bar Association in October 2011, according to police.

The Florida Bar filed a complaint with the Twelfth Judicial Circuit in November saying that as many as 12 victims had their injury settlement payments stolen by Schieb.

Investigators determined that all 12 victims were misled, lied to or misrepresented by Schieb over a number of years, according to police.

Schieb settled cases without notifying clients and kept their money, police said.

Police were able to identify eight victims, including a World War II veteran. Police said that many of the victims still require more medical procedures and some have lost their homes, cars and jobs.

Schieb's troubles had first started in 2003 when law partner Richard Groner had committed suicide, The Herald-Tribune reported in November:

"The partner, Richard Groner, handled the firm's trust accounts — the place where, for example, an insurance company settlement check for either lawyer's clients would end up until the time came to split the money up between client and attorney.

But no money was left in trust accounts when Groner took his life. Under Florida Bar regulations, both partners had full responsibility for the trust account.

The Florida Bar reprimanded Schieb in 2005, and put on probation for two years, requiring him to have a certified public accountant reviewing his trust account during that time."

Anyone with information about this case or if they believe they were a victim of Schieb is asked to call Detective Jack Carter at 941-954-7088.