Watch CBS News

Law License Suspended For Md. Lawyer Whose Client Was Killed

BALTIMORE (AP) -- A Baltimore County attorney who inadvertently shared information that led to a client's murder has agreed to an indefinite suspension of his law license, court records show.

Larry Feldman, who's been an attorney for 17 years, acknowledged violating Maryland's rules of conduct for lawyers when he told a suspect in a check fraud scheme that prosecutors needed to speak with Isiah Callaway about the case.

Prosecutors say the suspect, Tavon Davis, then hired a hit man for $2,000 and had Callaway killed in 2011. Davis is serving 35 years in prison stemming from the killing. The man convicted of killing Callaway, Bruce Byrd, is serving a 40-year prison term.

Feldman's license will be suspended starting Saturday, The Baltimore Sun reported, (http://bsun.md/1BBuxq3 ).

Feldman has said he had no idea Davis was a suspect in the check fraud scheme when he asked after Callaway, a suspect in the same case.

Davis had previously hired Feldman to represent Callaway. Additionally, Callaway and Davis referred to each other as brothers, and Callaway had insisted that Davis sit in on one meeting with Feldman, according to documents from the Attorney Grievance Commission.

"In a million years, I never thought anything would lead to Isiah's death," Feldman told The Sun in 2011.

But in federal criminal proceedings, Davis testified that Feldman joked about having Callaway killed, suggesting that Davis could "send him to Costa Rica or get rid of him the Sicilian way."

Feldman and his attorney did not return calls seeking comment Thursday.

Callaway's family sued Feldman, arguing that the attorney had been fully informed of the check fraud scheme and that Davis had told him that he wanted to be insulated from criminal liability. Feldman later agreed to a substantial settlement in the case, according to grievance commission documents.

Terms of the settlement are confidential.

Federal authorities said there was no evidence to warrant charges against Feldman.
------
Information from: The Baltimore Sun, http://www.baltimoresun.com

(Copyright 2015 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.