Georgia divorce attorney is shot lifeless ‘by estranged husband of one particular of his feminine clients’

A Georgia divorce attorney was shot lifeless by the estranged husband of a person of his purchasers in advance of the disgruntled male torched his office environment with his continues to be continue to inside, authorities allege.

Lawrenceville police say Doug Lewis was on your own inside his places of work on Stone Mountain Street Wednesday night when Allen Tayeh walked in and shot him lifeless.

Tayeh then allegedly poured gasoline all about Lewis’s business office, and begun a fireplace right before he was noticed strolling away from the scene of the criminal offense suffering from burns of his own.  

Investigators now say Tayeh owed Lewis a lot more than $28,000 in legal charges, after the properly-highly regarded lawyer gained his ex-spouse a $170,000 settlement and a judge purchased he pay for his exes’ attorney’s fees as very well.

Tayeh, 65, is now going through felony murder and first-diploma arson expenses, and is remaining held at the Gwinnett County Jail without having bond.

Doug Lewis, a beloved divorce legal professional in Lawrenceville, Ga, was shot dead and his places of work were being set on fireplace Wednesday night

Authorities say Allen Tayeh, the estranged partner of just one of his clientele, was dismayed by how considerably he owed Lewis in legal expenses ahead of he shot him and ignited his offices

Authorities have explained they were being initial alerted to a hearth at Lewis’s offices inside an old, transformed residence at all over 5pm.

When they arrived they saw the wooden building was seriously burnt, and when the hearth was extinguished, firefighters discovered Lewis’ physique continue to within.

Quickly, a witness advised authorities on the scene they experienced viewed a gentleman going for walks absent from the scene who also appeared to have been burned, and Lawrenceville police had been capable to detain Tayeh on the scene.

‘He did have a firearm on him,’ Lt. Jake Parker instructed WUSA, ‘a revolver that had expended cartridges in the cylinders. And there have been gas cans and an odor of gasoline spherical the area as very well.’

‘It’s really brazen,’ he extra of the murder. ‘It’s variety of out of the blue.’

But courtroom files acquired by 11 Alive now suggest Tayeh might have been determined to eliminate Lewis over the considerable settlement he won his ex-wife.

The documents state that Tayeh’s ex-wife submitted for divorce in January 2021, and enlisted Lewis as her attorney. A verdict was then arrived at in August to dissolve the relationship. 

Beneath the terms set forth by a nearby choose, Tayeh would have to give his ex-wife 50 % of his retirement gains, pay out $138,000 inside of 90 days for her share of fairness in their Dacula house and send her $500 in regular alimony.

A decide then dominated in late Oct that Tayeh would also have to pay back his ex-wife’s authorized costs from the divorce proceedings — amounting to $28,483.23 — in just 30 times.

Authorities had been ready to detain Tayeh at the scene right after a witness spotted him walking away with melt away marks on his pores and skin

Tayeh is now becoming held at the Gwinnett County Jail without having bond as he faces felony murder and very first-degree arson rates

He experienced evidently never paid out individuals payments, 11 Alive reports, with court docket filings from December 1 exhibiting that Lewis requested a judge keep him in contempt of court for failing to make the payments.

‘The payment for attorneys’ expenses was owing to be received by Plaintiff’s counsel on or in advance of November 30, 2022,’ Lewis wrote. 

‘Defendant unsuccessful to make the payment for attorneys’ fees as ordered by the court,’ he ongoing, writing: ‘Defendant is in willful contempt of the court’s order dated Oct 31, 2022.’

A hearing was established to discuss the matter for December 14, but has considering the fact that been canceled. 

Firefighters arrived at the scene of Lewis’s law offices on Wednesday evening to uncover it experienced endured significant damage

Lewis is now remembered as a pleasant, household-man who has been in observe in Gwinnett County for 30 yrs.

‘I’m going to skip him,’ fellow attorney Phil McCurdy mentioned. ‘He experienced a great sense of humor and a incredibly speedy wit.’

McCurdy reported they ended up in some cases adversaries in courtroom, but served as co-counsel at other moments.

‘Doug was a consummate gentleman,’ he stated. ‘I’ve hardly ever heard him elevate his voice. I in no way saw him lose his temper. I in no way noticed him take care of anybody besides with regard.

‘I don’t know any person who did not regard him as a colleague, as a experienced as a human getting,’ he additional. 

Kristina Weaver also reported she bought to know Lewis and his household when their little ones ended up youthful.

‘I utilised to see him in Dacula Park all the time and he was just the nicest guy,’ she explained. ‘He is properly-known in the spouse and children court docket community, in particular. 

‘It’s just truly sad.’

In the meantime, Jesse Kent, a previous regulation lover of Lewis stated he was a ‘dedicated household male who cherished his spouse and kids.

‘Rarely did a day move that he failed to point out them or how very pleased he was of them,’ Kent claimed, incorporating: ‘Doug was a joy to be about he was the conventional that all lawyers — which include me — aspired to be.

‘His absence was felt the moment he left us, and the lawful occupation will at any time be the exact devoid of him.’