The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-01-04
ATTY. ENNIS is
DISBARRED FOR
next z YEARS
Judge Finds Him Guilty of
Professional Misconduct
and Making Unfair, Ex-
tortionate Agreement.

Through a decision handed down
by Judge Lucien f. Burpee in the
Superior court. civil side, today, At
torney George TT. Ennis Of Derby,
formerly Of this city, has been dis
barred from the practice of law in
this county for period of two years.
The court brands Attorney Ennis
connection in the settling of the case
of Nellie Shuster against the Warner
Bros. Co. as both professional and
non professional misconduct and al
SO the agreement entered into be-
tween the girl and the attorney as
unfair, extortionate and Illegal
In February, 1909, Nellie Shuster,
then IT years of age. was injured at
the plant of the Warner Bros. Co.
The corset company paid her hos
pital and medical fees to the amount
Of $500 and allowed her SIS per week
during her Hines. She had been led
to believe by friends that she could
pany because Of her injuries. She
retained Attorney Ennis to prosecute
the claim against the company, and
if possible to make q settlement. She
the court that Attorney Ennis had
stated to her that she could obtain
at least $4,000. Attorney Ennis
made settlement with the company
securing $500. Prior to this time he
entered into an agreement with the
tain half Of the amount, obtained
from the company, as counsel fees
After the company settled, Miss
Shuster was given $3.50 by Attorney
Ennis, which amount she refused.
The full text of Judge Burpee's
lows:
"All the material allegations Of the
complaint are found to be true. The
agreement. the respondent made, in
the circumstances disclosed, was un-
fair, extortionate and Illegal. When
client, the obligations Of his trust re-
q,zired him to use the greatest care
to watch over and protect the inter-
ests of his ward, and In some re-
spects his duties were defined and
fixed by the statuee. All this, being
member of the bar, he knew. but
disregarded.
an his second defense to his an
swer the respondent alleges that after
investigating his clients case he be
came convinced that her injuries
were occa sione1 by her own neglig-
not legally liable therefor; and that
subsequently, and after discussions
with this employer 'aS to the merits
of the case he procured an offer of
settlement for $500. which he ac-
cepted.
these allegations it appears that the
accomplished that result
by means Of concealment and false
pretences relating to certain evidence
which he claimed he had and could
produce in a suit he was threatening
to begin.
eft must be found in his treatment
of his ward and in his dealings with
his client and her employer, the re-
spondent has been guilty Of both
and non professional
!. sTherefore it is ordered that he be
spsnended from the practice of law
in this state for the term of two
wears. and pay the costs in the
At the time of the hearing against
Attorney Ennis, was also heard the
anneal from Probate of Attorney En-
nis in disallowing his claim against
be,, estate. Ennis had had himsen
. nnointed the girls guardian as she
u,as minor The Probate Court
wonId not allow his claim of $3.50.
Judge Burpee finds that the action or
the Probate court was proper and IT'S
order and decree is affirmed. The de-
cision in this appeal follows:
s"The only question presented In this
anneal is whether the appellant is ag-
or;eved by the order of the Probate
Co,1rt of Bridgeport, made Feb. 4
1910. disallow;ng and disapproving,
navnent to himself Of $242.50 for his
services as attorney to the estate OF
his ward. which he included as an