Case Title: Matter of a Member of the Bar: Stull

Citation: 

Docket Number: 330, 2011

State: delaware

Court: Delaware Supreme Court

Date: 2011-07-25T00:00:00Z

Document:
SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE 
 
 
In the Matter of a  
 
 
§ 
Member of the Bar of 
 
 
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the Supreme Court of 
 
 
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Delaware:  
 
 
 
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No. 330, 2011 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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JOHN M. STULL,  
 
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Respondent   
 
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                                        Submitted:  July 20, 2011 
                                            Decided:  July 25, 2011 
 
Before STEELE, Chief Justice, BERGER and RIDGELY, Justices. 
 
                                                        ORDER 
  
AND NOW, this 25th day of July, 2011, upon receipt of sufficient evidence 
demonstrating that John M. Stull, Esquire, a lawyer subject to the disciplinary 
jurisdiction of this Court, has engaged in conduct which demonstrates he poses a 
significant threat of substantial harm to the public or to the orderly administration 
of justice, it appears to the Court as follows: 
(1) 
Mr. Stull is a solo practitioner with an office located at 3 Mill Road, 
Suite 306A, Wilmington, Delaware 19806.  Mr. Stull continues to hold himself out 
to the public as a Delaware lawyer. 
(2) 
By Order dated December 4, 2009, this Court approved the 
recommendation of the Board on Professional Responsibility and ordered Mr. Stull 
publicly reprimanded and placed on a two-year term of probation with conditions.  
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Those conditions included, among other requirements, that Mr. Stull (a) timely file 
Certificates of Compliance with pre-certifications, (b) fulfill a specific continuing 
legal education requirement by a date certain, and (c) cooperate with the Office of 
Disciplinary Counsel (“ODC”) regarding meeting the terms of the probation. 
(3) 
Mr. Stull failed to satisfy the conditions of his probation, even with 
extensions of time, and failed to cooperate with and respond to inquiries made by 
the ODC. 
(4) 
On July 1, 2011, the ODC filed a Motion for Issuance of a Rule to 
Show Cause (the “Motion”) as to why Mr. Stull is not in violation of the Court’s 
December 4, 2009 Order of public reprimand and probation.  The ODC further 
requested the Court order an examination of Mr. Stull by a qualified medical 
expert pursuant to Rule 19(c) of the Delaware Lawyers’ Rules of Disciplinary 
Procedure (the “Procedural Rules”) as a result of the ODC’s concerns about his 
continued competence to practice law.  The ODC served Mr. Stull with a copy of 
the Motion by e-filing, and by first class mail to both his home address and the 
address of his law office that is on file with the Court. 
(5) 
On July 1, 2011, the Court issued a Rule to Show Cause to Mr. Stull.  
The Court directed Mr. Stull to file a response no later than July 14, 2011, and 
scheduled a hearing for July 20, 2011.  The Court served Mr. Stull by e-filing, and 
by mail and process server at both his home address and office address.  The return 
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of service from Brandywine Process Servers, Ltd. reflects that the process server 
personally served Mr. Stull on July 5, 2011 at his home, and on that same date 
served a copy at his office on the person that appeared in charge at that address. 
(6) 
Mr. Stull neither responded to the Rule to Show Cause nor appeared 
at the hearing. 
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS ORDERED AS FOLLOWS: 
(1) 
John M. Stull, Esquire is immediately suspended from the practice of 
law in this State pending the disposition of disciplinary matters pursuant to the 
Procedural Rules. 
(2) 
During the period of interim suspension, Mr. Stull shall not: (a) share 
in any legal fees arising from clients or cases referred by him during the period of 
suspension to any other lawyer, or (b) share in any legal fees earned for services by 
others during such period of suspension.  Mr. Stull also shall be prohibited from 
having any contact with clients or prospective clients or witnesses or prospective 
witnesses when acting as a paralegal, legal assistant, or law clerk under the 
supervision of a member of the Delaware Bar. 
(3) 
The ODC shall file a petition in the Court of Chancery of Delaware 
for the appointment of a Receiver of Mr. Stull’s law practice pursuant to 
Procedural Rule 24, and the Receiver shall provide notice to clients, adverse 
parties, and others in accordance with Procedural Rule 23. 
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(4) 
The Receiver shall make such arrangements as may be necessary to 
protect the interests of any of Mr. Stull’s clients and the public. 
(5) 
Mr. Stull shall cooperate in all respects with the Receiver, including 
providing the Receiver with all law office books and records. 
(6) 
Mr. Stull engaged in conduct which demonstrates he poses a 
significant threat of substantial harm to the public or to the orderly administration 
of justice.  Accordingly, the ODC shall make this Order public. 
 
BY THE COURT: 
/s/ Henry duPont Ridgely 
Justice