Defense: Clients knew man wasn’t a lawyer

Closing arguments start Tuesday in the trial of a Pompano Beach man accused of pretending to be a lawyer so he could work on real estate cases, including foreclosures and leases.

Kenneth Frank, 56, is facing nearly 20 felony counts of organized fraud, practicing law without a license, filing false legal documents and related crimes.

Assistant Public Defender David Wheeler’s case emphasized that most of the alleged victims appeared well aware that Frank was not a lawyer. Frank enlisted the services of licensed attorneys who reviewed the paperwork he provided, Wheeler said.

Jurors will have to decide whether Frank crossed any professional lines by preparing documents, having people sign them and filing them.

Last week, prosecutors Jessalynn Rubio and Justin McCormack presented evidence that Frank acted as a lawyer when he filed documents on behalf of one client in a foreclosure case and that he negotiated a commercial lease even though he was not authorized to do so. The arrival of a new tenant surprised the landlord.

The client in the foreclosure

case said Frank had him sign paperwork related to the case and attempted to file liens against the buyer who ultimately bought the distressed property.

In all, Frank collected somewhere between $20,000 and $50,000 from his clients, according to prosecutors. One client, Gary Saunders, said he bartered with Frank, doing construction and mechanic work in return for Frank’s help in his foreclosure case.

Broward Circuit Judge Barbara Duffy is presiding over the case, which is expected to go to the jury Tuesday.