Case Title: In re Falls

Citation: 

Docket Number: 

State: hawaii

Court: Hawaii Supreme Court

Date: 2020-07-08T00:00:00Z

Document:
SCAD-20-0000436 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF HAWAII IN RE: D. GERALD FALLS (Disabled), Bar No. 4088 ORIGINAL PROCEEDING (ODC Case No. 16-O-073) ORDER APPOINTING TRUSTEE (By: Recktenwald, C.J., Nakayama, McKenna, and Wilson, JJ., and Intermediate Court of Appeals Associate Judge Hiraoka, assigned by reason of vacancy) Upon consideration of the July 1, 2020 motion filed by Bradley Tamm, the Chief Disciplinary Counsel at the Office of Disciplinary Counsel (ODC) to appoint himself as trustee over the legal practice of attorney D. Gerald Falls due to incapacity, as provided by Rule 2.20 of the Rules of the Supreme Court of the State of Hawaii (RSCH), and the declarations and exhibits appended thereto, it appears the trusteeship is necessary. We further conclude that a review of the record supports the conclusion that the funds in Falls=s client trust account maintained at Hawaii National Bank, ending in x3326, Electronically Filed Supreme Court SCAD-20-0000436 08-JUL-2020 08:06 AM 2 were abandoned as of December 29, 2014, and therefore are ripe to escheat, pursuant to HRS ' 523A-3(a)(15) (Supp. 2008). Finally, we conclude that, insofar as attorney Falls is not in possession of any client files or property, there is no purpose to the publication of the notices set forth in RSCH Rules 2.20(c)(1)(ii) or 2.20(d). Therefore, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the motion is granted and, effective immediately, Tamm is appointed as Trustee over Falls=s legal practice, pursuant to RSCH Rule 2.20. Tamm shall assume all of the rights, privileges, and powers of RSCH Rule 2.20, including the authority, pursuant to RSCH Rule 2.20(c)(2)(ii), to take possession, upon presentation of this order to the relevant bank official, of the client trust account at Hawaii National Bank ending in x3326, if necessary. Tamm shall inform the bank of the conclusion of this court that the funds have been abandoned, within the meaning of HRS ' 523A-3(a)(15) (Supp. 2008), as of December 29, 2014, and that they may therefore escheat forthwith. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the publication requirements of RSCH Rule 2.20(c)(1)(ii) and 2.20(d) are hereby waived. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Trustee Tamm shall subsequently file a report with this court regarding the 3 disbursement of the funds from, and the closure of, the Hawaii National Bank client trust account and may include with that report, if he deems it appropriate, a motion for his discharge. DATED: Honolulu, Hawaii, July 8, 2020. /s/ Mark E. Recktenwald /s/ Paula A. Nakayama /s/ Sabrina S. McKenna /s/ Michael D. Wilson /s/ Keith K. Hiraoka