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Board of Overseers of the Bar v. Stanley E. Sproul
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Docket No.: BAR-16-6
Issued by: Maine Supreme Judicial Court
Date: December 27, 2016
Respondent: Stanley E. Sproul
Bar Number: 001810
Order: Receiver Discharge Order
Disposition/Conduct: Receiver Discharge Order
M. Bar R. 32
Before the Court is a Petition for Discharge of Receiver Lester F. Wilkinson, Esq., who was appointed by this Court to oversee the concluding of the law practice of Stanley E. Sproul, Esq. The Petition was submitted by Special Bar Counsel for the Board of Overseers of the Bar.
After consideration of the Court?s Order Appointing Receiver, the Receiver?s Report of December 2, 2016, and the Petition for Discharge, the Court finds:
Upon motion of Paul Chaiken, Special Bar Counsel to the Maine Board of Bar Overseers, the Court appointed Lester F. Wilkinson, Esq., as Receiver of the law practice of Stanley E. Sproul, Esq. for the purpose of obtaining possession of files belonging to the clients and former clients of Stanley E. Sproul, securing funds held in Stanley E. Sproul?s operating and trust accounts, obtaining Stanley E. Sproul?s trust account records, and protecting the interests of the clients and/or former clients of Stanley E. Sproul, Esq.
Lester F. Wilkinson, Esq., Receiver of the law practice of Stanley E. Sproul, Esq., has taken necessary and reasonable steps to fulfill his obligations as Receiver of the law practice of Stanley E. Sproul, Esq. He attempted to return client files to their rightful owners. He determined the law office of Stanley E. Sproul was not holding client funds in any IOLTA or trust account.
Lester F. Wilkinson, Esq. has reviewed Stanley E. Sproul?s client files. He generated an inventory of the client files and has provided that inventory to Special Bar Counsel. There were no open or current client files. No clients of the law office of Stanley E. Sproul sought to pick up their files or documents, despite the Receiver?s reasonable efforts to provide them notice that they should do so. As all of the files were eligible for destruction, the Receiver disposed of the files.
Lester F. Wilkinson seeks no compensation for his work as Receiver. He does not seek reimbursement for out of pocket expenses he incurred in connection with his service as a Receiver.
Based upon the foregoing, the Court makes the following findings and reaches the following conclusions:
Lester F. Wilkinson, Esq., Receiver of the law practice of Stanley E. Sproul, Esq., has taken all reasonable steps to discharge his obligations as Receiver of the law practice of Stanley E. Sproul, Esq., to return all client files, to arrange for the secure retention and destruction of those client files, and to confirm that Stanley E. Sproul held no unearned client funds at the time of his death.
THEREFORE it is hereby ORDERED:
The actions of Lester F. Wilkinson, as Receiver of the law practice of Stanley E. Sproul, as described in the Report of the Receiver, are approved;
Lester F. Wilkinson, Esq. is discharged as Receiver of the law practice of Stanley E. Sproul, Esq.
The Court extends it gratitude to Attorney Wilkinson for his efforts in protecting the clients of and closing the law office of Stanley E. Sproul, Esq.
The Clerk is directed to incorporate this Order upon the docket by reference pursuant to M.R.Civ.P. 79(a).
Dated: December 27, 2016
Donald G. Alexander
Associate Justice
Maine Supreme Judicial Court
