Eric C. Olson v. Clifford B. Strike, Esq.

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Disposition: Award to Petitioner

Issued by: Fee Arbitration Commission

Docket #: FAC# 17-301

Dated: February 26, 2018

Bar Number: 008319

This matter was heard before a duly authorized Panel of the Fee Arbitration Commission of the Board of Overseers of the Bar. The Panel consisted of Michael R. Poulin, Esq., Chair; Carrie Folsom, Esq., and Cheryl Brandt, public member. A hearing was held on February 22, 2018, in Lewiston, Maine. The Petitioner appeared by telephone and testified. The Respondent did not appear, and his office called shortly before the hearing to state that Mr. Strike was ill and would not be appearing. Considering that the Respondent had failed to provide any written response either to the original petition or to a second request from the Board Clerk, the panel decided to proceed with the hearing. The hearing was recorded by a court reporter.

Based upon the evidence presented, the Panel finds as follows:

The fees charged to the Petitioner were not reasonable; the Petitioner is awarded a refund of $2500.00; and Respondent must pay this amount to Petitioner.

In order to preserve the confidentiality of the written materials and of 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 documents 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).

This 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 and Determination on February 26, 2018.

Michael R. Poulin, Esq.
Panel 2 Chair
Fee Arbitration Commission