Jim Humphreys, a Charleston area lawyer who has been sued by his former clients, has announced that his law firm has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
As of Wednesday, James F. Humphreys & Associates stated that it was entering bankruptcy in order to "resolve all pending and potential claims against the firm in one forum and in a timely and equitable manner."
Humphreys, a former Democratic state senator who ran for a state Congressional seat in 1999, has been sued for allegedly causing hundreds of his former clients to miss a deadline to collect damages under asbestos-exposure lawsuits and trying to cover up those mistakes.
"Our first and foremost obligation is to our clients," Humphreys said in a news release. "As painful and as difficult as it is to take this step, this action will allow us to move quickly and transparently to identify and pay these obligations, and settle any legitimate claims against the firm."
According to the release, Humphreys' hope is that the law firm's "issues can be sorted out quickly and effectively in bankruptcy court, ultimately enabling the firm to continue offering effective legal representation."
The action, according to the release, should not affect the day-to-day operations of the firm and current cases it is handling.
"I profoundly regret any inconvenience this situation has caused and I am determined to make sure each and every one of these clients is made whole," Humphreys said.