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Victims of convicted fraudster and former attorney William Conour have settled a lawsuit that named a one-time Conour associate as a defendant.
The daughter of Loretta and Davis Beals Sr. was left permanently disabled when their vehicle was hit by a tractor trailer several years ago. Conour, then lawyer with Conour Doehrman Attorneys at Law, negotiated a structured settlement in which monthly benefit payments were to come to the parties until 2047. Those payments stopped coming in January 2013, while Conour was embroiled in a federal investigation.
Conour, 67, pleaded guilty in July 2013 to stealing about $6.8 million from more than 30 clients. He is serving a 10-year wire fraud sentence.
Marion Superior Judge James Osborn in April entered total default judgments in favor of the Bealses in excess of $2.1 million. The suit also named attorney Thomas Doehrman, who had been affiliated with Conour.
Doehrman argued he was never in partnership with Conour and bore no liability for his illegal acts. Lewis Wagner LLP attorney Dina Cox, who represents Doehrman in this case, and attorney James R. Fisher of Miller & Fisher LLC, who represents the Bealses, said the settlement and settlement terms are confidential.
The suit was settled Thursday on the eve of a scheduled final pre-trial hearing. A jury trial had been scheduled for Jan. 27.
The suit was one of several still pending from Conour victims as he pursues an appeal.
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