Attorney Daniel Sumption of Lowell, MA; ethical dwarf

The state of Massachusetts presented Daniel J. Sumption with a law license in 1984 after he graduated from Case Western Reserve University Law School in Cleveland, Ohio.

The Board of Bar Overseers found Daniel guilty of the following misconduct

In one matter, Daniel was hired to represent a client who sustained injuries in a car accident. Three months later, the client’s HMO notified Daniel that it claimed a subrogation lien for medical services rendered after the accident to be paid from the proceeds of any recovery or settlement.

Subsequently, Danny collected a total of $63 in PIP (personal injury protection) payments from his client’s insurer and deposited the funds in his client trust account. However, over a 30-day period, Danny intentionally used $428 of the funds for personal purposes.

In another matter, Daniel represented a sell of a condominium unit who had entered into a purchase and sale agreement to sell the real estate. The agreement designated Danny as escrow agent to hold the buyer’s $12,500 deposit until the closing. A week later Danny opened an account at a bank in Marblehead entitled “escrow account,” into which he deposited the $12.500. One month later, Danny intentionally used $1,000 of the escrowed funds for his own purposes.

When the Charlestown closing took place, Danny issued a check from the escrow account for $11,808.72 to his client, the Charlestown seller; however, in order to fund the check, he used funds belonging to another client on real estate to be sold in Marblehead. Danny then intentionally used another $2,000 of client escrow funds for his own purposes.

In addition to the above, Danny also wrote at least two checks without funds to cover the checks (rubber).

As a consequence of his misconduct, the apologists for Attorney Misfits sitting on the Board of Overseers punished Daniel by gifting him with a complimentary 90-day suspension of his law license.

As we speak (ca. September 2013) Daniel practices at 147 East Merrimack Street in Lowell, Massachusetts.