Massachusetts Suspends Former Duane Morris Partner

A year and a day suspension was imposed by a justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court of a former Duane Morris attorney for negligent mishandling of the funds of a client, intentional misappropriation of funds due to the firm and improper billing of travel expenses to the firm.

Justice Hines agreed with the Board of Bar Overseers that purported mitigation based on preoccupation with family health issues exacerbated by substance abuse problems had not been established. 

The contention that the misconduct was proven through hearsay evidence also was rejected.

The attorney was admitted in 1971 and was a partner at the firm from 2004 to 2006 and again from February 2010 to October 2011. 

In the period between, he was counsel to the Las Vegas Sands Corporation.

According to the court’s memorandum decision, he did so in part

because he expected that [the firm] would withhold his capital contribution…when he left the firm.

The mitigation that affected sanction in the attorney ‘s favor was prompt repayment of the funds at issue.

The Boston Business Journal reported his 2010 return to the firm and also noted the publication of his first novel. The Inquirer and Mirror had the story of the novel’s publication. (Mike Frisch)