Story Archive

Lawyer Joke, Personified

Ben Swift works as a court-appointed attorney in Columbus, Ohio — the court pays him to represent people who can’t afford an attorney. His name came to attention when the local newspaper found he billed the most of any such attorney in the state. That triggered an audit, which found that in 2008, Swift billed for 2,967 hours, or on average a little over 8 hours per day, every day, seven days a week, for the entire year. The audit found that he billed 21 hours for one day, 21.5 hours on a second day, 23 hours on a third day, and 29 hours on a fourth; he billed for 14 or more hours for 48 other days. The state’s Supreme Court is deciding on disciplinary action. His attorney admits Swift failed to “accurately and properly record and submit his time,” but is an “outstanding lawyer” who did perform the work. (RC/Dayton Daily News) ...Allegedly.