Board of Overseers of the Bar v. Warren M. Turner

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Docket No.: BAR-11-15

Issued by: Supreme Judicial Court

Date: February 7, 2012

Respondent: Warren M. Turner

Bar Number: 001623

Order: Suspension

Disposition/Conduct: Failure to respond to clients; Failure to return client property; Failure to appear at Court; Failure to respond to Bar Counsel

ORDER of SUSPENSION

By filing dated October 14, 2011 the Board of Overseers of the Bar (the Board) petitioned this Court for an immediate Order temporarily suspending Warren M. Turner from the practice of law in the State of Maine. Included with the Board?s Petition were related exhibits and an Affidavit of Assistant Bar Counsel. The Court notes that since October 18, 2011 Mr. Turner has been administratively suspended from practicing law due to his failure to renew his registration and complete the required continuing legal education to fulfill his license renewal requirements.

Subsequently, the Grievance Commission has authorized three cases for disciplinary hearing before the Court. Of note, Mr. Turner failed to respond to any of those grievance complaints-GCF # 11-192; 11-276; and 11-371. He also failed to answer the Board's Petition for Suspension. By Order issued October 24, 2011 this Court appointed a Receiver, Thomas G. Ainsworth, Esq. to assume responsibility for winding down Turner's practice.

For good cause shown by the Board, Warren M. Turner appears to have committed numerous violations of the Maine Rules of Professional Conduct, thereby serving as a threat to clients, the public and to the administration of justice. Those violations include Mr. Turner's failure to respond to client inquiries; return client files/property; appear at some District Court hearings; relinquish his complete client files and office computer and failure to file an affidavit in compliance with M. Bar R. 7.3 (i)(2) (A), (B). The Court finds that Mr. Turner's actions constitute multiple violations of the M. R. of Prof. Conduct, including 1.1; 1.3; 1.4; 1.15; 1.16; 8.1(b) and 8.4(a)(d).

Accordingly, this Court ORDERS that Warren M. Turner be suspended from the practice of law in Maine until further Order of this Court.

For the Court

Joseph J. Jabar, Associate Justice Maine Supreme Judicial Court