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Board of Overseers of the Bar v. William B. Gillespie
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Docket No.: Bar-18-16
Issued by: Maine Supreme Judicial Court
Date: December 6, 2018
Respondent: William B. Gillespie
Bar Number: 009881
Order: Order of Surrender
Disposition/Conduct: Order of Surrender
By its filing of October 26, 2018, the Board of Overseers of the Bar (the Board) petitioned this Court for an Order for Receivership and for disability suspension concerning William B. Gillespie. In response to the Board's pleadings, Mr. Gillespie filed no objections to the requested relief. Counsel for the parties, Attorney Sheilah McLaughlin and Acting Bar Counsel Aria Eee, engaged in subsequent negotiations and then notified the Court of their agreement as to formal resolution of this matter.
Mr. Gillespie was admitted to the Maine bar in 2005. He has maintained a solo practice in Topsham, Maine focusing primarily on probate and estate planning matters. Within the last two years, however, Mr. Gillespie has become medically disabled to such a degree that it has resulted in his neglect of various court matters, including those wherein he served as a fiduciary. At the time the Board sought Receivership of his law practice, Mr. Gillespie’s license had already been administratively suspended for his failure to renew his bar registration. Mr. Gillespie currently resides in an assisted living facility and his files are located at a former home secured in a storage pod. Pursuant to M. Bar R. 25(a) and the parties’ agreement, the Court has considered Mr. Gillespie’s voluntary licensure surrender.
Therefore, it is hereby ORDERED:
William Gillespie’s surrender from the Maine bar is accepted, pursuant to M. Bar R. 25(a). Effective this date, his name shall be removed from the list of members who are admitted to practice law before the courts of the State of Maine. It is further ordered that Mr. Gillespie shall comply with all provisions of M. Bar R. 31 that are not otherwise delineated as duties for the Receivers. The Court’s Order for Receiver is incorporated by reference herein. Mr. Gillespie shall cooperate with Receivers, Suzanne Johnson, Esq. and Special Counsel Angela Morse in the wind down of his law practice. As well, Mr. Gillespie shall, within, ten (10) days after the effective date of the surrender, file with Bar Counsel the notification affidavit required by M. Bar R. 31 (h).
Finally, if the Lawyers’ Fund for Client Protection (LFCP) pays any future claims on his behalf, Mr. Gillespie, or his estate, shall be responsible for reimbursement of those claims in a manner acceptable to the LFCP Trustees. This Order is a matter of public record pursuant to M. Bar R. 25(d)(3).
Date: 12/6/18
Ann M. Murray, Justice
Superior Court
Sitting as Single Justice by Designation
