Attorney Suspended For False Affidavit Against Law School Dean

An attorney who filed a false affidavit in connection with a suit against a law school and its Dean was suspended for a year and a day by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court.

The attorney had filed the suit on behalf of a law school classmate alleging violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act. After a confidential settlement was reached, the attorney alleged that the law school and Dean had breached the agreement.

The client then filed two new actions seeking a restraining order against the Dean and the law school’s defense counsel, alleging that they were stalking and harassing him. The client sought injunctive and monetary relief.

The affidavit at issue attested that the attorney

…had investigated the dean by interviewing former students and current attorneys who were African American and/or of Caribbean descent and that those students had described the dean (who is African American) as “unprofessional, sophomoric, and silly.” The respondent also attested that “[the dean] was given a free house to live in [a named county], which is paid for by the law school and taxpayer dollars.

The above statement was found to be either knowingly or recklessly false. (Mike Frisch)