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Clients: Attorney Took Our Money, Left Us High And Dry

KANKAKEE, Ill. (CBS) -- A lawyer is accused of taking his clients' money and leaving them high and dry, as he tried to decide whether to party in Chicago or California.

As WBBM Newsradio's Steve Miller reports, the Facebook page of Illinois attorney Michael Duval says he's updated his current city to Newport Beach, Calif.

LISTEN: WBBM Newsradio's Steve Miller reports

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One client says Duval posted the question on Facebook -- should he ring in the New Year in Chicago or California?

The Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission says Duval also posted this on Facebook - around Valentine's Day: "Spread the love!... The goal is to give away $100,000 in free legal services from today to Feb 14, 2013... to the residents of Kankakee County."

"If that was the case, why did I end up paying him for a job he didn't do?" said Adam Brinkman, a client who said he was scammed by Duval last year.

Duval's clients say several months ago, he just disappeared.

Wilbert Lacy was a client who paid Duval $2,000, for work Lacy says was never done.

Lacy says he finally got some answers from a law office in the same building where Michael Duval worked.

"He said, 'Man, Mike is missing in action, man,'" Lacy said. "He said nobody knows where that guy is."

Lacy wants Duval to suffer some kind of consequences.

"If I had to decide on his fate, it would be just like the guy from Texas who didn't make president, Rick Perry. He said, 'We string 'em up down there.'"

Kankakee Police say five people have filed reports on Duval. No charges have yet been filed by the Kankakee County State's Attorney.

The Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission also has been investigating.

Attempts to reach Duval have not been successful.

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