Jackson Jambalaya

The Crook v. the Clown

Jamuric Mallard accused his mother and attorney Carlos Moore of cheating Jamuric out of his share of a  $300,000 settlement with the city of Jackson in a wrongful death lawsuit.  Jamuric's brother, Jamaal, died of an overdose while in police custody in 2017.  Jamuric sued the pair for fraud in Hinds County Circuit Court on July 23.

Jamaal Mallard stole a lawnmower on Corkview in 2015.  JPD tried to arrest him as he pushed the lawnmower down the street but he escaped their clutches.  They arrested him at home for petit larceny a short while later and booked him into the JPD holding facility downtown at 3:43 AM.  Mallard was 29 years old.  

JPD discovered Mallard was dead at 6:00 AM.  The body showed no physical trauma.  The Mississippi Bureau of Investigations ruled he died of fatal cardiac arrhythmia caused by acute cocaine toxicity. In other words, he OD'ed.  

Attorney Chokwe Antar Lumumba petitioned the Hinds County Chancery Court to appoint Nanette as administratrix of the estate.   The only assets the estate possessed was the wrongful death claim.  Nanatte hired the soon-to-be Mayor to represent the estate. He later stepped aside and Moore took up the case.  

Mallard's mother, Nanette, sued the city of Jackson, JPD Chief Lee Vance, and several JPD employees for wrongful death in U.S. District Court on March 29, 2017.  Moore was Nanette's attorney in this lawsuit.  The case settled in September 2018 for $300,000.  The Jackson City Council approved payment of the settlement.  That is when the fun began. 

Remember Jamuric Mallard? The lawsuit claims Carlos Moore forgot all about Jamaal's brother.  Mr. Moore submitted an amended petition to open the estate to the Chancery Court on December  14, 2017.  The new petition stated Jamuric was the natural brother of Jamaal.  The Chancery Court ruled Jamuric was entitled to 50% of his brother's estate on September 26, 2018.  

The complaint states: 

That on October 1, 2018 Nanette Mallard, purportedly acting as the administrator of the Estate of Jamaal Mallard, executed an ·'Acknowledgement of Conclusion of Representation and Disbursement Authority and Direction, ETC.", prepared by Moore Law Group, P.C. approving the disbursement of the $300,000.00  previously accepted from the City of Jackson. (Attached as Exhibit 8).

That in that disbursement Moore Law Group was to be paid $65,000.00 in legal fees and $11,000.00 in expenses.  That Mike Carr Esq. was to be paid $34,650.00 in legal fees and $708.50 in expenses.  That Oasis was to be paid $6,950.00 and that the remaining $181,691.50 is to be split between Nanette Mallard and Jamuric Mallard with each to receive $90,845.75.

Jamuric claims no one tried to contact him about the settlement: 

26. That upon information and belief no attempt was made to contact Jamuric Mallard or notify Jamuric Mallard of the settlement obtained on behalf of the Estate of Jamaal Mallard which Jamuric Mallard was a 50% beneficiary of.

27. That upon information and belief no attempt was made to notify the Estate of Jamaal Mallard of the Settlement and no approval was sought to accept or distribute the funds on behalf of the Estate of Jamaal Mallard.

28. That upon information and belief funds were accepted by Nanette Mallard, Carlos Moore, Carlos Moore Law Group, P.C, Michael Carr, and Carr Law Firm, PLLC and those funds were used for personal  benefit.

The estate funds less the various fees went to Nanette Mallard.  Jamuric claims he received none of the funds due him until he challenged the Grenada attorney three years later:  

That after diligent inquiry and a request for accounting Jamuric Mallard received a check in the amount of $90,845.75 on July 13, 2021 which was written out of the Moore Law Group. P.C. IOLTA Account by Carlos Moore on July 9, 2021, despite the fact that the disbursement statement was executed on October 1, 2018.

The plaintiff charged Carlos the Clown and Nanette with violating his fiduciary duty.  He argues they knew he was a 50% beneficiary when they accepted the $300,000 payment.   He accused the defendants of spending estate funds without court approval.   He accuses the attorney of acting on behalf of the estate without a signed contract stating he represented the Mallard estate. 

The complaint charges Moore committed legal malpractice by settling the case, collecting attorney's fees, and disbursing estate funds even though he had no contract or authority to represent the estate.  Moore allegedly withheld the 50% share of settlement proceeds due to Jamuric. 

Mallard also accuses his mother and the Grenada attorney of conversion as well as fraudulent and/or negligent representation,  He seeks punitive damages.   The case is assigned to Circuit Judge Adrienne Wooten. 

Jamuric Mallard is a convicted felon. Ironically, Mallard is currently under indictment for allegedly trying to steal his father's house by forging his signature.  The case is still pending in Hinds County Circuit Court. He was arrested for domestic violence in 2017.  JPD arrested him in 2017 for domestic violence after he hit a woman with a brick.

Kingfish note:  A legal malpractice was filed against Mr. Moore  nearly a year ago in Forrest County Circuit Court.  However, no action has been taken on the lawsuit since it was filed, including service of process.