Peabody School Board Member Has Liens, Bar Association Reprimand

PEABODY, MA — A Peabody School Committee member has federal tax liens of more than $50,000. Jarrod Hochman, who is one of seven candidates running for five at-large city council seats that are up for reelection in November, was also reprimanded by the Massachusetts Bar Association in 2015 for mishandling a couple's bankruptcy case and for less than honest reports to a client.

In a statement sent to Peabody Patch Wednesday, Hochman said when he was reprimaned by the bar association, he was "going through an extremely contentious and emotional divorce and custody battle" for his three children. He said the tax liens primarily stemmed from the forgiveness of a six-figure debt his ex-wife incurred and hid from him while they were still married (Hochman's complete statement is printed below this article).

"The most important result of that time in my life is that I fought for joint physical and legal custody of my three daughters," Hochman said. "I would not have changed the amount of effort and time that I expended to fight for my children."

The reprimand centered on a 2013 bankruptcy case, in which Hochman failed "to timely comply with the court’s orders and his failure to correctly calculate a feasible plan," as well as a 2015 visitation and child support case in which Hochman told his client he had filed a complaint without checking to see if it had actually been filed.

"I took responsibility for my action and entered into a stipulation for the discipline that I deserved. I didn’t run away from the issue or my clients," Hochman said. "The public reprimand was my punishment; there were no criminal charges or civil lawsuits brought against me by anyone for this professional conduct."

The federal tax liens date back six years and include unpaid balances of $34,704.23 in 2013, $6,027.46 in 2014 and $9,699.62 in 2016.

"I can assure you that I am in contact with the IRS in an effort to resolve this matter. This lien does not have to do with an inability to pay but rather an effort to determine who is responsible for this debt and in what amount," Hochman said. "My hope is for a resolution soon."

In 2015, Hochman challenged Peabody municipal election results after losing the Ward 4 City Council election by four votes. He rejected calls to resign from the school committee after he filed his challenge, and was reelected to a four-year term on the school committee in 2017 in a five-way race for four open seats.

"My campaign for a seat on the Peabody City Council will continue with the vigor and effort that we have already brought forth, no amount of intimidation will change that," Hochman said. "I stand by my record of public service, in my capacity as an elected official and otherwise. I am proud of my work for the taxpayers, families and students of Peabody."

Hochman's complete statement, which was sent to Peabody Patch on Wednesday:

On September 17, 2019, I was contacted by two reporters from two different publications regarding documents that they each stated were faxed to them by a person that they did not know and that these documents pertained to me. I learned that these documents were a public reprimand, which I received from the Massachusetts Board of Bar Overseers, (the organization that regulates Attorneys in Massachusetts) that I stipulated to as a result of my conduct several years ago. Just so you know, I have been an uninterrupted member of the Massachusetts Bar since 1996. My membership and license are in good standing. The other documents were related to a tax lien on my property. Please accept this as my explanation for these matters.

I am not perfect, I never claimed to be and I am unaware of anyone who is; other than the person who anonymously transmitted the aforementioned documents to these reporters. However, even though this anonymous messenger is clearly attempting to hurt me personally, professionally and in my candidacy for the Peabody City Councilor At Large position that I am seeking and working hard towards earning, I forgive this messenger, I pray for you, as you aren’t perfect either, you are human like the rest of us and therefore you too have transgressed. I pray that you are able to get beyond your desire to hurt others.

Now on to the substance of these documents. During the time that is referenced in the public reprimand, I was going through an extremely contentious and emotional divorce and custody battle for my three minor children. For those of you that have experienced a divorce of your marriage, you know how painful and emotionally and physically consuming it is; for those of you that do not have this experience, consider yourself lucky. The failure of my marriage was a result of many things that I will not disclose as, frankly, they are none of your business, however I will tell you that the concealment of significant debt (six figure debt) incurred by my ex-wife in her name only was a substantial factor in my ultimate decision to seek an end to our marriage. During these most difficult personal times I continued working in my law practice, managing a caseload of over 100 files, representing my clients to the best of my ability. That is except for 1 couple, who is mentioned in the public reprimand. When I looked back and realized that I did not represent that couple to the best of my ability and was confronted with a complaint for the body that regulates attorneys, I took responsibility for my action and entered into a stipulation for the discipline that I deserved. I didn’t run away from the issue or my clients for that matter. Rather I stood up and admitted, even though there were extenuating circumstances, my representation of this couple fell below the standards that I hold for myself and my profession expects of me. The public reprimand was my punishment; there were no criminal charges or civil lawsuits brought against me by anyone for this professional conduct. My clients ultimately succeeded with that for which they hired me and were otherwise unharmed.

The second matter addressed in my public reprimand was the result of believing that a document that I hired a courier to file with a Court on behalf my client was in fact filed. Before I emailed my client, I should have confirmed with the courier the status of the document. Again no one was hurt, but I took responsibility for this error.

The most important result of that time in my life is that I fought for joint physical and legal custody of my three daughters. I would not have changed the amount of effort and time that I expended to fight for my children. Just so you know they are all thriving, wonderful people who I am extremely proud of and love dearly. I would do anything for my children and cherish our time together.

With regard to the tax issue. Most of this tax is a result of forgiveness of debt, some of which is related to the incredible amount of debt that my ex-wife incurred in her own name towards the end of our marriage. Unfortunately for me, we filed a joint tax return.... I can assure you that I am in contact with the IRS in an effort to resolve this matter. This lien does not have to do with an inability to pay but rather an effort to determine who if responsible for this debt and in what amount There conversations are ongoing and this matter is being addressed. My hope is for a resolution soon.

The good people of Peabody have already seen through the motivation, political and otherwise, for the disclosure of these documents to various news outlets as, this intelligent electorate re-elected me to the Peabody School Committee in 2017, after these documents initially surfaced. I thank my supporters for their belief in me and my ability to continue with the public service that I have provided to them for almost a dozen years. My campaign for a seat on the Peabody City Council will continue with the vigor and effort that we have already brought forth, no amount of intimidation will change that. We will continue walking door to door, talking to voters, all over this great City, in an effort to earn their support. I look forward to continuing my public service for you!

I stand by my record of public service, in my capacity as an elected official and otherwise. I am proud of my work for the taxpayers, families and students of Peabody. I would love to share those experiences with each and every one of you, and welcome that conversation, please call me at 617 281-6494.