AUGUSTA — A once-disbarred attorney is back before a disciplinary
panel of his peers on separate complaints that he failed to adequately
represent two clients, including an allegation that he was improperly
added as a beneficiary in an elderly client’s will.Andrews Campbell, 72, of Bowdoinham, has been the defense attorney in some high profile trials in central Maine, including the defense of Raymond Bellavance Jr., who was convicted of setting fire to the Grand View Topless Coffee Shop in Vassalboro in 2009.
The disciplinary petitions that Campbell faces were filed by the Board of Overseers of the Bar and accuse Campbell of misconduct and multiple violations of the Maine Code of Professional Responsibility.
Campbell denies he committed any violations of the code, or, if he did “such violation was inadvertent and did not do harm to any client or the public,” in a filing by his attorney, Justin Andrus.
Campbell said by email, “To my best knowledge, neither (petition) has merit. Beyond that I do not believe further comment would be appropriate at this time.”
Reached by phone Thursday, Andrus said he does not comment on active cases.
Full Article & Source:
High-profile central Maine defense attorney Campbell faces misconduct charges
'he was improperly added as a beneficiary in an elderly client’s will.'
ReplyDeleteVery serious allegation. I hope the Board of Overseers of the Bar in Maine are diligent in their investigation of this specific client while digging deeper into other clients of Andrews Campbell.
Crimes of financial exploitation of the elderly by fiduciaries, including opportunist lawyers and persons in positions of trust under color of law are increasing at an alarming rate.
Why? Because it's easy to accomplish for a long list of reasons knowing it's difficult to get anyone to have interest especially when the victim is elderly without family to take actions to search for the truth.
Improperly added to the will? I think a stronger word would be more descriptive.
ReplyDelete