| ► Attorney Charles MacLean of Framingham, MA; ethical dwarf |
 |
 |
|
Attorney Charles MacLean of Framingham, MA; ethical dwarf
The Massachusetts Supreme Court presented Charles M. MacLean with a law license in 1981.
The Board of Bar Overseers found Charles guilty of the following misconduct.
In one matter, Charles advanced money to a lawyer friend to fund a business venture, and in return received a verbal guarantee that the money would be returned with profit if the venture prospered. After the business tanked, Charles’ friend faced substantial tax liabilities, and he began to funnel money to Charles from various sources.
One source of funds was a personal injury case that Charles had handled. When he collected the funds, Charles gave the settlement funds to his friend, but the friend insisted that Charles hold the money, giving him permission to use it subject to a final account of the mutual debts and obligations between them.
Several years later, the friend demanded an accounting from Charles, but didn’t demand a return of the money. Because no accounting was forthcoming, the friend contacted the State Bar. Charles then ignored the bar counsel’s numerous efforts to reach him. Put simply, Charles told the Bar “Up Yours!.”
As a consequence of his misconduct, the apologists for Attorney Misfits sitting on the Board of Overseers punished Charles by gifting him with a complimentary stayed 90-day suspension of his law license. In truth the comedians sitting on the Board of Bar Overseers didn’t mete out any meaningful punishment to Charles.
As we speak (January 2013) Charles practices at 860 Concord Street in Framingham, Massachusetts.
|
