The year approximately 1976-1977, the following is a account of the business dealing surrounding Richard Hoffman "Rick" as know to most people. Rick was a very personable man, early thirties, well groomed, sexy to a point. He had not been practicing very long. He was in a two man office calling itself Grimes and Hoffman, they were a limited partnership, in Blue Springs Missouri, they were moderately successful. Rick had a lovely wife and two children, had purchased a new car, either a Cadillac or a Mercedes. He had a following of actual court house Groupies, this writer did not realize attorneys had followers like this. Richard had one serious flaw other than women, he developed a love for the "Snow Train", he rode this train with much gusto. He enjoyed his new found triumphs. Eventually the price of the train ride became more than his fees collected from clients and he started to steal from client's accounts and from the firm. His work also suffered in his ability to represent his clients. He started making mistakes in day to day operations, costing his clients in their individual cases. His reputation got to the point to where the opposing attorneys would insert female attorneys into their cases to run distraction on Rick. Coke and Vagina had once again contributed to the downfall of someone who should have had a successful career. Richard represented a young couple during this time, whereas the couple were involved in a deal with a "House Builder" from Independence Missouri. This being Harvey L. Stockton, married to Nancy, the father of two children, son Wade and a small daughter. Harvey at this time lived on East 36th St Terrace, Independence Missouri, very close to 15910 East 36th St; Terrace. Harvey was a drywall man for some time, then decided to build as it was easier than actual working. He had started a house for the couple and it became time for him to go on vacation. He disappeared to Canada with his good friend, George Jackson, a loan officer at Blue Valley Federal Savings and Loan. Blue Valley at one time was very profitable, then they became overran with trash like Jackson and eventually went under as did many savings and loans during this time. When Harvey returned from vacation he proceeded to start back to work on the young couple's home. During his absence the basement had been poured without proper supervision and it had cracked, the young couple decided to seek other professional help to finish the home. Stockton would not give them a bill to pay him for his work thus far. His friend at Blue Valley refused to release any of the funds for the couple to finish the house, until in George's words " His good friend Harvey was settled with". Of course they could not settle with Harvey without release of their funds. A catch 22. Ultimately Harvey filed a mechanics lien on the property effectively stopping the couple from any farther work on the house. Enter Rick Hoffman, ace attorney, lover of women and regular passenger on the "Snow Train". The firm representing Stockton selected a young female to go head to head with Rick. The end result Rick signed a paper with the attorney without the knowledge of the young couple and they subsequently lost their house. This was the only loan the couple could find, as they had spent several thousand on purchasing the lot to build on. This was at Raintree Lake in Lees Summit Missouri.
Richard was later disbarred and left the state, losing his wife and two beautiful children. Allegedly he moved to San Antonio Texas and was working for a firm called Data Point, this according to his partner Larry Grimes. Larry later retired and moved to Puerto Rico, apparently a choice of several people who wanted to get away.
Harvey Stockton continued on in a diminished state eventually ending up working maintenance at the old Independence Hospital in the downtown area. He allegedly developed a lung disease. This writer is hopeful he lived in severe pain the last years of his life. There was no information on his wife Nancy however she was just as corrupt and dishonest as her husband, so perhaps she suffered a similar health problem, probably not as she never worked.
The young couple eventually were able to recoup after several years and are doing well today.
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