Ethics
Former Eckert Seamans affiliate says he agreed to disbarment after he was misled about confidentiality
August 5, 2025, 12:50 pm CDT
A former affiliate at Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellott has agreed to disbarment to resolve ethics allegations that he pocketed charges for authorized work and sought cash from shoppers and acquaintances underneath false pretenses. (Picture from Shutterstock)
A former affiliate at Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellott has agreed to disbarment to resolve ethics allegations that he pocketed charges for authorized work and sought cash from shoppers and acquaintances underneath false pretenses.
However the former affiliate, Anthony Darnell Cox Jr. of Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, advised Law360 that he agreed to the disbarment based mostly on the understanding that the underlying allegations would stay confidential.
“I’m deeply saddened and have misplaced belief within the Pennsylvania disciplinary system and justice system as a complete,” Cox advised Law360. “I made the choice to resign from the apply of regulation and never contest any of the underlying allegations as a result of the board represented to me in writing … that if I resigned, the underlying allegations would stay confidential.”
The Pennsylvania Supreme Courtroom disbarred Cox efficient Aug. 17 in a July 18 order out there on the web site for the Pennsylvania Supreme Courtroom’s disciplinary board. Hooked up to the order are Cox’s resignation acknowledging the fabric info of the allegations, that are additionally hooked up.
The disciplinary board alleged that Cox accepted tens of 1000’s of {dollars} in authorized charges from greater than a dozen shoppers with out cost to Eckert Seamans after he joined the regulation agency as an affiliate in January 2022. He additionally did not deposit charges right into a lawyer belief account and failed to speak in writing the idea or charge of the charge, in line with the allegations.
Cox was additionally accused of falsely telling two shoppers that his mom had died—in a single occasion, to excuse a late refund and in one other, to justify his failure to shortly ahead the shopper’s cash to a state board.
Cox additionally requested acquaintances and shoppers for cash underneath false pretenses, in line with the allegations. In a single occasion, he alleged that his mom was sick and he wanted a airplane ticket to go to her. In different cases, he claimed that he was on a visit and had forgotten his pockets or bank card, in line with the allegations.
One particular person Cox allegedly contacted was a health care provider he had represented. Cox requested for cash for an Uber trip and for a relative who wanted surgical procedure. There was no such surgical procedure, the disciplinary board stated.
Eckert Seamans fired Cox in July 2023.
Law360 reviewed emails that Cox supplied exhibiting what he stated have been his communications with a disciplinary counsel in Might.
Cox requested whether or not there’s “a strategy to seal this or craft it in a means that minimal particulars can be found.” The disciplinary counsel responded that “all proceedings are confidential as much as a sure level.”
After the time to file a response to a petition for self-discipline has handed, the e-mail stated, all particulars would change into public.
“Subsequently, this resignation assertion can be non-public at this level,” the disciplinary counsel allegedly wrote.
The e-mail additionally stated the truth that Cox might be disbarred on consent is public.
Neither the disciplinary counsel nor Cox instantly responded to telephone messages left by the ABA Journal.
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