Jan C. Smith

Dangerously unethical! He took my case to advance his own goals at his CLIENT’S EXPENSE! He failed to inform client he was executor of his mother-in-law’s estate in county where Commissioner of Accounts is married to opposing counsel, an egregious violation of both Virginia State Bar and American Bar Rules governing conflict of interest. He intentionally subverted client’s case by failing to make an appearance and file a document in Heathsville courthouse by the filing deadline, then lied about his actions to the presiding Circuit Judge in court. Any other state would have disbarred him years ago, but Virginia, in its "infinite wisodm,actually employs him as a substitute judge! On May 20, 2010, the Virginia State Bar Sixth District Subcommittee imposed a public reprimand with terms on Jan C. Smith for violating disciplinary rules that govern competence, diligence, communication, and failure to respond to a lawful demand for information from a disciplinary authority. This was an agreed disposition of disciplinary charges. RPC 1.1; 1.3(a); 1.4(a–c); 8.1(c). See VSB Docket No. 09-060-076463 On March 20, 2012, the VSB Disciplinary Board issued a SECOND public reprimand to him for violating professional rules that govern diligence and communication. This was an agreed disposition of misconduct charges. RPC 1.3(a); 1.4(a). See VSB Docket No. 10-060-080411, 11-060-086108, 11-060-085701

He engaged in conflict of interest and conspiracy by taking my case in full knowledge that opposing counsel was the Westmoreland county Commissioner of Accounts overseeing the probate of his mother-in-law's will. In order to get the Commissioner to approve documents he probated that Commissioner previously rejected several times, Smith intentionally subverted my case by: (1) failing to enter a court appearance as counsel despite repeated requests, (2) conspiring with two opposing counsels to not file a court document by deadline, (3) not telling his client of his failure to do so, and (4) making a surprise appearance in court and testifying on behalf of opposing counsel to fatally damage client's case. His unlawful actions cost his client $7,000! Further, the Virginia State Bar Disciplinary Board receives nearly annual complaints and issues public reprimands to him for egregious violations of the professional rules that govern diligence and communication and dozens of others violations, e.g. In their infinite wisdom the counties of the Northern Neck actually CONTINUE to use this sociopath as a substitute judge with full awareness of and DESPITE his multiple VSB citations! ANY other state would have disbarred him long ago. AVOID UNDER ALL CIRCUMSTANCES!!!