PORTLAND, Maine — A Biddeford attorney who was the subject of at least 10 complaints by former clients has been suspended from practicing law in Maine for four-and-a-half years.
The Maine Supreme Judicial Court on Wednesday ordered Scott D. Giese not to practice law in Maine until May 2019. Giese is not licensed to practice elsewhere, according to a release from the Maine Board of Overseers of the Bar.
According to a court order signed by Supreme Court Associate Justice Joseph J. Jabar, Giese did not contest the suspension.
The Board of Overseers found that Giese engaged in multiple violations of the Maine Rules of Professional Conduct.
Giese was temporarily suspended from practicing from mid-January to mid-March based on “client neglect, prejudicial conduct and contact with a represented person.”
At the time, his solo practice in Biddeford was ordered into limited receivership, according to the court order.
In the months after he resumed practice, the court received additional similar complaints.
Among four particular cases, Giese failed to file court actions for clients and misrepresented that to them, engaged in misconduct with clients, mismanaged his practice and failed to pay an employee in a timely way.
He also was found to have violated the rules due to a personal conflict with a client and neglected a criminal matter, charged an excessive fee and failed to communicate with a client, the court order states.
Giese did not respond to several of the complaints, according to the court order.
“While Giese has reportedly experienced personal distress, his violations of the professional conduct rules threaten lasting injury to his former clients and to the public,” the order states. “Without a doubt, Giese’s mishandling of client funds and neglect of multiple legal matters exacted harm to former clients, members of the public and the court’s administration of justice.”
Nine former clients have filed claims with the Lawyers’ Fund for Client Protection, which has awarded approximately $10,000, with three claims pending.
Giese claims he is unable to pay any awards or reimbursements due to unemployment and an impermanent living arrangement.
After his suspension but prior to being reinstated to practice, Giese must make restitution to the client protection fund for all claims paid on his behalf, and reimburse other clients. He must also be monitored by a court-appointed monitor for at least two years.