Court Opinion

ID: 9911190
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-12-19 17:09:43.862423+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:56:22.245029
License: Public Domain

Supreme Court

                                                               No. 2023-344-M.P.

In the Matter of James S. Lawrence.         :

                                       ORDER

       On December 4, 2023, this Court entered an Order disbarring Mr. James S.

Lawrence after receiving his Affidavit Voluntarily Consenting to Disbarment, which

was filed with the Court on November 15, 2023. In the Matter of James S. Lawrence,

No. 2023-344-M.P, slip op. at 1 (R.I. Dec. 4, 2023). Per a prior Order of the Court

entered on April 20, 2023, Mr. Lawrence was suspended indefinitely from the

practice of law. In re Lawrence, 291 A.3d 1012, 1012 (R.I. 2023) (mem.). In the

latter Order, the Court had appointed Attorney Matthew F. Callaghan, Jr., as Special

Master to take possession of and inventory Mr. Lawrence’s client files and banking

accounts, and empowered the Special Master to take whatever steps necessary to

protect the clients’ interest; including, but not limited to returning files to the clients

or new counsel of each client’s choice. The Special Master position has been vacant

since August 26, 2023.

      The Court hereby appoints the Honorable Michael A. Silverstein, Special

Master of Accounts and Marshalling Assets, over Mr. Lawrence’s and his former

firm, Lawrence and Associates’ (a.k.a. Lawrence and Associates, LLC), trust and

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operating accounts. Regarding said bank accounts, the Special Master is given sole

and exclusive access to the following accounts heretofore controlled by Mr. James

Lawrence, either solely or jointly with any other parties: business and operating

accounts; trust accounts, including special trust accounts; special needs trust

accounts; clients’ accounts; estate accounts; and any and all other accounts related

to Mr. Lawrence’s former law practice that he has in the past utilized for the deposit

and maintenance of fiduciary and/or clients’ funds and fee advances. The foregoing

list of accounts shall also include any accounts where Mr. Lawrence formerly served

as an agent, special agent, trustee, personal representative, executor, power of

attorney, or custodian. The Special Master shall have sole control over these above-

described accounts, to the exclusion of Mr. Lawrence, until further order of this

Court. By this Order, the Court prohibits Mr. Lawrence or any of his agents from

withdrawing or transferring funds from any of the aforementioned accounts.

      The Special Master shall also marshal any assets of Mr. Lawrence’s former

law firm and liquidate said assets, to make additional funds available to pay the

verified claims of Mr. Lawrence’s former clients.

      The Court also hereby orders Mr. Lawrence to fully cooperate with the Special

Master of Accounts and Marshalling Assets, to assist them and their agents in

effectuating their duties and directs that any lack of cooperation on Mr. Lawrence’s

behalf be reported to this Court for further action.

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      The Court also orders the Special Master of Accounts and Marshalling Assets

to investigate and report to the Court about Mr. Lawrence’s 2023 conveyance of the

title to his residence as a fraudulent conveyance designed to defeat his creditors.

      The Court also hereby appoints Chief Disciplinary Counsel, Kerry Reilley

Travers, and her successor, Special Master of Client Files, to store and return client

files to the former clients of Mr. Lawrence. The Court also authorizes Disciplinary

Counsel to destroy any files remaining in her or her successor’s possession on or

after April 20, 2033.

      The Court also grants Disciplinary Counsel authority to share the contents of

said client files with the Special Master of Accounts and Marshalling Assets, to the

extent necessary to allow both Special Masters to fully execute their duties.

      Entered as an Order of this Court this 19th day of December 2023.

                                               By Order:

                                               /s/ Meredith A. Benoit
                                               Clerk

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                                           STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
                                     SUPREME COURT – CLERK’S OFFICE
                                           Licht Judicial Complex
                                             250 Benefit Street
                                           Providence, RI 02903

                                 ORDER COVER SHEET

Title of Case                        In the Matter of James S. Lawrence.

Case Number                          No. 2023-344-M.P.

Date Order Filed                     December 19, 2023

                                     Suttell, C.J., Goldberg, Robinson, Lynch Prata, and
Justices
                                     Long, JJ.

Source of Appeal                     N/A

Judicial Officer from Lower Court    N/A

                                     For Petitioner:

                                     Kerry Reilley Travers, Esq.
Attorney(s) on Appeal                Chief Disciplinary Counsel
                                     For Respondent:

                                     William C. Dimitri, Esq.

SU-CMS-02B (revised November 2022)