Alan Haley and Susan Surabian v. Elisabeth A. Pickle, Esq.

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Disposition: Award to Petitioner

Issued by: Fee Arbitration Commission

Docket #: FAC#15-145

Dated: August 27, 2015

Bar Number: 009971

A hearing in the above matter was held on August 20, 2015, in Augusta, Maine before a duly authorized Fee Arbitration Panel of the Fee Arbitration Commission of the Board of Overseers of the Bar. This Panel was designated to hear the controversy existing between the above named parties as set forth in the Petitioner?s Petition. The members of this Panel were Chair Christopher L. Mann, Esq.; Peter T. Marchesi, Esq.; and public member Cathy A. DeMerchant. Both Complainants and Respondent appeared to testify¹.

Based upon the testimony and the evidence submitted, the Panel finds that Respondent?s fees were reasonable in part, and unreasonable in part, pursuant to Rule 1.5 of the Rules of Professional Conduct. Therefore, Respondent owes Petitioners the amount of $2,000.00.

In order to preserve the confidentiality of the written materials and the testimony submitted at the hearing, the findings of fact and conclusions are not set forth in the Award and Determination. This Award and Determination is accompanied, however, by a separate supplemental document which sets forth the findings of fact and conclusions of the Panel. By ruling of the Chair, the attached supplemental document shall not be considered part of the award, which is a public document. In accordance with Maine Bar Rule 7(h), the supplemental document shall be confidential and shall not be open to the public or disclosed to any person except as otherwise set forth in Maine Bar Rule 7(h).

The Award and Determination is in full settlement of all claims submitted to the Arbitration Panel.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has subscribed to this Award on August 27, 2015.

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Christopher Mann, Esq., Chair

Fee Arbitration Commission

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¹Respondent testified via teleconference.