Attorney Suspended; Failed To Resurface

An attorney who had been disbarred in 1993 was reinstated to practice in 2013 with conditions.

after a reinstatement hearing before a hearing panel of the board, the SJC ordered that the respondent be reinstated to the practice of law subject to conditions as enumerated in the report. The first condition required the respondent to enter into a written mentoring agreement with another named attorney for a term of two years on terms satisfactory to bar counsel. Another condition required the respondent to submit to a psychological evaluation from Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers (LCL), but did not set forth a time for compliance.

It did not go as hoped.

bar counsel filed a motion for reconsideration with the SJC asking that the SJC reconsider, and then deny or revoke, the respondent’s reinstatement immediately. The matter was heard before the single justice on April 1, 2014. The respondent did not appear, but his previous counsel appeared and was given leave to speak to assist the Court. Counsel asked the Court to give the respondent time to resurface. The respondent did not resurface and on July 23, 2014, the SJC entered an order temporarily suspending the respondent pending further proceedings before the board. The respondent was ordered, among other matters, to file compliance forms and to contact bar counsel on or before October 1, 2014. The respondent failed to comply with the order of temporary suspension, had not contacted bar counsel, had not filed compliance forms and is still of parts unknown.

As a result, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court imposed a suspension of six months and a day.