In re Lawrence
| Docket Number | 2023-25-M.P. |
| Decision Date | 20 April 2023 |
| Citation | 291 A.3d 1012 (Mem) |
| Parties | In the MATTER OF James S. LAWRENCE. |
| Court | Rhode Island Supreme Court |
Kerry Reilley Travers, Esq., Chief Disciplinary Counsel, for Petitioner.
James S. Lawrence, pro se.
On January 20, 2023, this Court's Disciplinary Counsel ("Counsel") filed a Petition pursuant to Article III, Rule 6(e) of the Supreme Court Rules of Disciplinary Procedure requesting that the Court order the respondent, James S. Lawrence, a member of the Rhode Island bar, to file an answer to a pending disciplinary complaint.
On February 14, 2023, the Court entered an Order reprimanding the respondent for his failure to answer that complaint and directed him to file an answer within ten (10) days or his license would be indefinitely suspended without further notice.
On February 27, 2023, three days after the February 24, 2023 deadline set in the Order, the respondent faxed a purported answer to the complaint that failed to address any of the substantive allegations in the complaint and also falsely indicated that he had delivered the case file at issue to successor counsel. Counsel's inquiry into the delivery of the file proved that respondent had not delivered the file as claimed.
On March 1, 2023, Counsel wrote to the respondent to explain that his answer was non-responsive and thereby insufficient, and that contrary to his representation about transmitting the file, successor counsel had not received the file he claimed to have sent. This letter also gave respondent until March 10, 2023 to transfer the file and provide a substantive response to the disciplinary complaint. To date Counsel received no further response from respondent.
On March 13, 2023, successor counsel provided an affidavit that she had not received the file.
On March 23, 2023, Counsel brought this matter back before the Court, seeking the imposition of an indefinite suspension for respondent's lack of explanation and misrepresentation to the Court. Counsel also requested the appointment of a Special Master to take control of respondent's active case files and bank accounts related to his practice of law.
Accordingly, it is ordered, adjudged, and decreed that the respondent, James S. Lawrence, is hereby suspended from the practice of law in this state, effective immediately and until further order of this Court.
It is further ordered that Matthew Callaghan, Esq., be appointed as Special Master to take possession of and inventory the respondent's client files and accounts,...
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