Kevin E. Mitchell, the owner and operator of Coinshop.com and now-closed CoiNuts in Coeur d'Alene, was dumped earlier this month by his attorney - for not paying his fees.

According to court documents in 1st District Court, attorney Michael E. Ramsden was representing Mitchell in a recent civil case in which a former CoiNuts customer complained of getting ripped off for tens of thousands of dollars by Mitchell.

Mitchell's attorney, Ramsden, started seeking to withdraw as Mitchell's attorney late last year. He was granted withdrawl by the court on March 12.

Ramsden filed documents March 12 to withdraw as Mitchell's attorney, saying Mitchell "failed to maintain consistent communications with (Ramsden's) office, (and) has failed to pay attorney fees or costs incurred... ."

Marc Lyons, Ramsden's law partner at Ramsden and Lyons in Coeur d'Alene, confirmed on Tuesday his office cut ties with Mitchell.

"This law firm does not currently represent CoiNuts, Coinshop.com or Kevin Mitchell," Lyons said in a email.

Lyons said he didn't know who is representing Mitchell currently. Mitchell has declined comment to The Press.

The Press reported recently that CoiNuts allegedly swindled several dozen of its customers. Many claim to have lost tens of thousands of dollars, and others hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Mitchell, 47, of Hayden Lake, has been accused of regularly failing to deliver on gold and silver purchased by customers, and of writing bad checks for valuables. CoiNuts was located at 296 W. Sunset Ave., just off U.S. 95 in Coeur d'Alene. It closed in July.

Mitchell hasn't been charged in connection with the alleged swindling.