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Board of Overseers of the Bar v. William B. Cote
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Docket No.: BAR 13-20
Issued by: Maine Supreme Judicial Court
Date: April 4, 2014
Respondent: William B. Cote
Bar Number: 002892
Order: Receiver Discharge Order
Disposition/Conduct: Order for the winding down and closure of law office
ORDER
On February 25, 2014 the Court conducted a status conference with counsel for the parties and the Receiver, Andrucki & Associates.
Pursuant to the parties? agreement this Court ORDERS the following:
Beginning March 1, 2014, the Receivers shall wind down and effect the closure of Mr. Cote?s law office. To that end, the Receivers shall cease any payments for office expenses/equipment, including copiers, mail postage meters and temporary staff. Arrangements for return of leased equipment shall be made as soon as practicably possible.
With the assistance of the Board of Overseers, the Receivers shall run an advertisement in the local newspaper notifying clients that the law office is closing. That ad shall provide contact information for retrieval of client property.
Mr. Cote has proposed a plan to reimburse all clients for the losses incurred as a result of his disability-related misconduct. In that regard, Mr. Cote accepts responsibility for creating a situation which generated such widespread loss to his clients, unfair treatment to other litigants and wasted time/resources of the judiciary and his colleagues of the bar.
The Court appreciates Mr. Cote?s proposed plan for going forward and will schedule this matter for an updated status conference in September 2014.
Justice Joseph M. Jabar, Associate Justice
Maine Supreme Judicial Court
