On Friday, May 26, 2023, the Second District, Section I Subcommittee of the Virginia State Bar publicly reprimanded Virginia Beach attorney John Dillard Hooker, Jr. pursuant to an agreed disposition arising out of the disciplinary matter alleging Hooker of professional misconduct.
The case is titled “In the Matter of John Dillard Hooker, Jr.,” and was brought by the Virginia State Bar, case #23-021-126580.
The charges cited Rules of Professional Conduct, 1.5(b), 1.15(a),(b), and (d), which state:
The lawyer’s fee shall be adequately explained to the client. When the lawyer has not regularly represented the client, the amount, basis or rate of the fee shall be communicated to the client, preferably in writing, before or within a reasonable time after commencing the representation.
All funds received or held by a lawyer or law firm on behalf of a client or a third party, or held by a lawyer as a fiduciary, other than reimbursement of advances for costs and expenses shall be deposited in one or more identifiable trust accounts; all other property held on behalf of a client should be placed in a safe deposit box or other place of safekeeping as soon as practicable.
A lawyer shall not disburse funds or use property of a client or of a third party with a valid lien or assignment without their consent or convert funds or property of a client or third party, except as directed by a tribunal.
According to the court document, Hooker was hired by Richard Spreder to defend his son, the complainant, Paul W. Spreder on criminal charges. Hooker received payments totaling $15,000 from the complainant’s father, but no written agreement was in place. Hooker did not complete the case, failed to appear at the complainant’s sentencing hearing, did not provide an accounting for the fees earned, and claimed to have earned the fees. The complainant received a prison sentence of four years and nine months. Additionally, the respondent neglected to perform the required reconciliations during the representation.
The filing states:
“By letter dated May 16, 2022, Complainant’s father wrote to Respondent stating that he was disappointed in Respondent’s representation and requesting a refund of $5,000.00. On May 19, 2022, Respondent withdrew as counsel of record for Complainant, and substitute counsel appeared on behalf of Complainant.”
The filing continues:
“Respondent stated that all $15,000 was earned and declined to refund Richard Spreder’s estate. Respondent did not finish Complainant’s case.”
Thereafter, the State Bar of Virginia, through Shelley L. Spalding, Assistant Bar Counsel, and Hooker, submitted an Agreed Disposition for a Public Reprimand with Terms. According to the agreed disposition, such discipline is appropriate for the matter if this case were to be heard through an evidentiary hearing by the Second District, Section I Subcommittee.
During a hearing, the Second District, Section I Subcommittee of the Virginia State Bar voted to approve the agreed disposition of the Virginia State Bar.
The disposition reads:
“Accordingly, having approved the agreed disposition, it is the decision of the Subcommittee to impose a Public Reprimand with Terms.”
Mr. John Dillard Hooker, Jr. practices in Virginia Beach where he operates his law firm, John D. Hooker Jr. and Associates. He obtained his Juris Doctorate from the Marshall School of Law of the College of William and Mary, graduating in 1973. He has been admitted to practice in Virginia since 1973.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
