| ► Attorney Blake Godbout of Boston; repeater, ethical misfit |
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Attorney Blake Godbout of Boston; repeater, ethical misfit
The state of Massachusetts presented Blake J. Godbout with a law license in 1980.
The Massachusetts Board of Bar Overseers found Leonard guilty of the following misconduct.
In one matter, Blake held $9,250 as an escrow agent. The funds were held in his trust account and represented a deposit on the prospective sale of a condominium unit pursuant to the terms of an executed purchase and sale agreement. Blake was attorney for the seller and held the funds in escrow as attorney for the seller.
The sale was never consummated. Over nearly a one year period of time, the buyer made repeated demands upon James and the seller (James’ client) for return of the $9,250 deposit. The seller also claimed to be entitled to the $9,250. Even though he was aware that this dispute would not likely be resolved quickly, James did not transfer the $9,250 into an individual interest-bearing account as required for nearly one year and only did so after the buyer filed suit against his client, the seller.
In another matter, James and an attorney he shared office space with used letterhead that identified his law office as a professional association. James used a fax cover sheets and an office sign that also identified the law office as a professional association. James and the other attorney were not partners and his conduct in suggesting that he practiced in a partnership when he didn’t violated the Code of Conduct and in effect constituted false advertisement.
As one would suspect, this wasn’t James’ 1st bite at the Attorney Misfit Apple Tree. He previously received two complimentary admonitions for failing to cooperation in the investigation of two ethics complaints and for failing to timely refund an unearned fee.
As a consequence of his misconduct, the enablers for Attorney Misfits sitting on the Board of Bar Overseers punished Blake by gifting him with a complimentary reprimand.
As we speak (ca. October 2012) Blake practices with Blake J. Godbout & Associates at 33 Broad Street in Boston, Massachusetts.
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