On Your Side Investigation Update: Springfield attorney’s license suspended

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (KY3) - A Springfield attorney’s license is suspended. Effective Tuesday, Cody Smith cannot practice law.

In January, clients told On Your Side they could not reach their attorney, Cody Smith. He’s accused of taking their money and never filing uncontested divorces. Clients told us they waited months, even a year, and nothing was filed. Those clients filed complaints with the state, and something was done about it.

Right now, Smith must stop practicing.

Here are the court documents for Cody Smith’s interim suspension.

It says probable cause exists to believe Smith is ‘guilty of professional misconduct and poses a substantial threat of irreparable harm to the public.’ Smith has not yet filed a response to this.

The 20-page document goes on to explain twenty-three client complaints. The Office of Chief Disciplinary Counsel says he ‘fails to perform services as promised.’ It continues that he didn’t return calls, texts, or emails, and dissolutions were never filed.

“That’s exactly what we were going through,” said Jerek Ellis.

We first talked to Ellis and two other clients in January, and they all said the same thing: They paid hundreds of dollars for representation and received nothing.

“The few times I was able to get a hold of him, he made me feel like I was being needy and wanted to communicate too much. This makes me feel validated to the point where everyone is having the same issue with him,” said Ellis.

On Your Side emailed Smith to request an on-camera interview for this story. Smith replied and told Ashley Reynolds to stop harassing his family and clients.

KY3 never contacted any of his clients, except the ones we interviewed, who emailed us. Reynolds has emailed and called Smith for each story we’ve done on him to ensure he has the chance to respond. Smith never responded to our first story but later said he would sue Reynolds for defamation.

Ellis has since hired another attorney, and his divorce is final. He sued Smith in small claims court and has a hearing next month.

“Mainly, we are just hoping to get our money back,” said Ellis.

According to court records, this suspension means he has a long ‘to-do’ list, which includes withdrawing from pending cases, refunding customers, and not taking on new clients.

Again, Smith is currently suspended but not disbarred. This is a pending matter, and he has not filed a response to his discipline case. He can fight to modify it.

We’ll continue to follow this story.

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