CHARLESTON, SC – February 24, 2025 – Bland Richter LLP has filed a lawsuit in Charleston County on behalf of Pamela Kane, widow of the late Timothy P. Kane, seeking judicial dissolution of three business entities allegedly controlled and mismanaged by attorney Hal E. Cobb and his associates.
The lawsuit, filed in the Court of Common Pleas for the Ninth Judicial Circuit, details how Cobb allegedly leveraged his position as both attorney and business partner to engage in actions that were “unlawful, oppressive, fraudulent, or unfairly prejudicial” to Mrs. Kane and the Timothy P. Kane Trust.
According to the complaint, Cobb first formed an attorney-client relationship with Timothy Kane in 2015 and subsequently used this privileged access to Mr. Kane’s financial information to create business ventures that would benefit from Mr. Kane’s wealth and real estate expertise. Following Mr. Kane’s death in July 2024, the complaint alleges that Cobb continued to manipulate Mrs. Kane through misrepresentations and unauthorized financial transactions.
“The lawsuit alleges profound violations of the Rules of Professional Conduct which govern lawyers,” said Ronnie Richter, co-founder and partner at Bland Richter. “Clients who engage attorneys for estate planning purposes are entitled to know that their attorney is focused only on the best interests of the client and not the opportunity for personal gain.”
The lawsuit seeks dissolution of three limited liability companies: Timco, LLC, 604 Front Street, LLC, and 109-111 Screven Street, LLC. The complaint alleges that Cobb, as manager of these entities, made unauthorized distributions, misrepresented financial information, and prioritized his personal interests and those of his law partners over the interests of Mrs. Kane and the trust.
Among the specific allegations, the complaint details how Cobb allegedly:
- Made unauthorized financial distributions from company accounts
- Misrepresented investment requirements to Mrs. Kane
- Recorded transactions as “loans” rather than distributions without proper authorization
- Prioritized the financial needs of his law partner over the interests of the companies
- Failed to honor agreements made with Mrs. Kane regarding financial transactions
The plaintiffs are seeking judicial dissolution of the business entities and a complete accounting of all financial activities.
Bland Richter, LLP is representing the plaintiffs through attorneys Ronnie Richter, Scott Mongillo, and Eric Bland.
Complaint and Exhibits