On Thursday, February 20, 2025, The Post & Courier reported that a well-known Charleston attorney had been stripped of his law license by the South Carolina Supreme Court for misusing client funds to cover personal expenses, including his children’s college tuition, a ski trip, country club memberships, and loan payments. John K. Blincow was disbarred on February 19 following a series of financial misconduct incidents, capping a legal career that spanned nearly four decades.

The Supreme Court’s decision came after Blincow pleaded guilty to misdemeanor forgery in 2023, stemming from charges filed in December 2021. The charges arose when a woman, who had paid Blincow $75,000 to represent her in a civil lawsuit, discovered he had misappropriated the funds. The client’s case, initially filed in 2020, was dismissed that same year. When she requested a refund as per their agreement, Blincow failed to provide it promptly. Authorities later found that he had deposited the funds directly into his operating account instead of a trust account, as required. Bank records revealed that he transferred portions of the money, in increments of a few thousand dollars, to his personal account.

Further investigation exposed additional misuse. When the client pressed for invoices detailing how her money was spent, Blincow fabricated documents, including one falsely claiming he had hired an expert witness. In a recorded phone call, he admitted to using her funds for personal and living expenses. Though he later used his own money to partially repay her, the court noted that his business account lacked sufficient funds to cover the full amount owed.

The Supreme Court’s Office of Disciplinary Counsel uncovered other instances of financial wrongdoing. In July 2019, Blincow had taken money from client settlement deposits to support a lifestyle his family could not sustain. Following his arrest, he self-reported his actions to the court, which issued an interim suspension while the investigation proceeded.

Blincow’s legal career began nearly 40 years ago as a prosecutor in the 5th Circuit Solicitor’s Office in Columbia. He later transitioned to private practice, working for several notable Charleston law firms before founding Blincow Griffin in 2015 with attorney John Griffin. His practice focused on medical malpractice, product liability, construction defects, and personal injury cases. A longtime resident of West Ashley, Blincow had built a reputation in the legal community over his 37-year career.

During the court proceedings, Blincow requested a suspension rather than disbarment, citing his lack of prior disciplinary actions, his partial refund to one client, and his cooperation with investigators. He also highlighted personal struggles, including steps he had taken to address an alcohol addiction and to reflect on the pride and laziness he said had crept into his professional life.

However, the Supreme Court emphasized its strict stance on financial misconduct. While acknowledging Blincow’s efforts to take responsibility and address his personal challenges, the justices deemed his admitted misappropriation of client funds to be severe enough to warrant disbarment. Following his guilty plea to misdemeanor forgery in Charleston County Circuit Court, Blincow was sentenced to time served, which amounted to 14 minutes, according to jail records.

The court’s ruling marked the end of his legal career, underscoring the gravity of his actions despite his years of service in the profession.

Source: The Post & Courier