Johnson's Lawyer Accused of Stealing Money to Pay Gambling Debts

What to do when your attorney tricks you into investing money which will be spent on gambling and buying private jets?

Well, golfer Dustin Johnson claims that he was a victim of his former lawyer and close adviser Nathan “Nat” Hardwick who persuaded him to make an investment that will cost Dustin a little fortune.

Believing that Nathan is making a good investment, Johnson loaned money to the Atlanta based firm of Morris Hardwick Schneider. The plan was that for his investment Johnson would be paid back $4-million in equal monthly installments starting in September.

Dustin trusted Nathan as he was more than just an attorney. He was, in fact a close advisor and almost a friend through his career. However, Dustin Johnson has not seen a penny of the promised money.

After Nathan Hardwick failed to make the required monthly payments of $4 million in September and October Dustin gave his attorney and his firm a notice of default and demanded the payments to be made. Dustin’s lawsuit claims that the firm and Nathan were threatening to disclose private and confidential information about him if he decides to take them to the court.

In August, Nathan Hardwick was accused of peculating almost $30-million in investment losses, buying private jets and incurring gambling debts. Accused lawyer has now resigned from the firm, denying all the accusations brought against him. The law firm did the same, claiming that these claims against them could not stand.

Johnson’s lawsuit states that his attorneys violated their position of trust to steal the money from him.

Dustin Johnson, a professional American golfer, who has ranked amongst top five golfers in the world, is taking some time off the pro tour. He took a leave of absence from the PGA looking for what he referred to as “professional help for personal challenges”. Several media made claims that his absence from the PGA had to do something with his suspension because of using drugs and failing the drug test. PGA has refuted these allegations.