Huntington Attorney Stole $800K From Widowed Client: DA

The founding partner of a Huntington-based personal injury and medical practice law firm was arraigned Friday for stealing more than $800,000 from a widowed client’s settlement fund, according to Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas Spota.

Carol Schlitt, 58, of Huntington Bay, represented a widow in a wrongful death action involving the woman’s deceased husband, the DA said. Schlitt held the money from the settlement of the wrongful death action in an escrow account and embezzled the money for her personal use, the DA said.

“Our investigation found that even after obtaining a significant fee in excess of $400,000, the defendant over a four year period siphoned off over $800,000 of the widow’s settlement funds,” Spota said in a press release.

The Schlitt Law Firm has an office located at 79 Wall St. in Huntington Village. The firm’s website says it is currently down for maintenance and its Facebook page “isn’t available right now.”

Patch called the Schlitt Law Firm's number and left a message for Schlitt. Patch also sent an email to the Schlitt Law Firm requesting a statement regarding Schlitt's charges.

Schlitt was arraigned in Suffolk County First District Court on second-degree grand larceny charges and was held on $50,000 cash or a $100,000 bond alternative.

She is due back in court Monday, Nov. 14 in Central Islip.

Image via SCDA