Rhode Island

Insurer had duty to defend ‘Heavy Hitter’ law firm in deceptive advertising case, federal judge says

A malpractice exclusion in a law firm’s director’s and officer’s liability insurance policy did not excuse the carrier from providing a defense in a lawsuit against the firm over its alleged deceptive advertising, a federal judge has ruled. Finding that the exclusion, as interpreted by the insurer, would largely eliminate…

Feb 18, 2014 6:45 PM CST

Former law student in police standoff after law school said he sent threatening email

A former law student at Roger Williams University was being evaluated Tuesday night following an incident in which he allegedly sent threatening email to faculty and administrators at the university’s law school and then refused to leave his home. Kevin Pacheco, 36, emerged from his Dartmouth, Mass., home Tuesday night…

Feb 6, 2014 1:00 PM CST

Pierce Atwood to acquire 10-attorney Rhode Island firm

A well-known New England law firm has announced plans to acquire a 10-attorney Providence, R.I.-based commercial and construction litigation boutique. Little Bulman Medeiros & Whitney will become part of Maine-based Pierce Atwood on Dec. 9, according to the Bangor Daily News and Mainebiz. Together, the merged firms will have an…

Nov 8, 2013 9:00 PM CST

Attorney who ‘blindly followed instructions’ censured for helping Internet scammer

Updated: A Rhode Island lawyer who marketed himself as an “attorney pay master” has been censured for helping a client transfer funds to offshore accounts before discovering the client was an Internet scammer. Johnston, R.I., lawyer Donald DeCiccio cooperated with authorities after learning in October 2012 that the client was…

Oct 23, 2013 1:09 PM CDT

Attorney faces disciplinary case over driver’s license application

After her driving privileges were suspended in Rhode Island, due to a drunken-driving arrest, Layne Savage obtained a license in Massachusetts. Now the Rhode Island attorney is facing a legal ethics case. She is accused not only of commiting a criminal act that reflects adversely on a lawyer’s honesty, trustworthiness…

Sep 16, 2013 4:00 PM CDT

Veteran defense lawyer convicted in conspiracy to bribe witness not to testify against client

A veteran Rhode Island defense lawyer has been convicted in a claimed conspiracy to bribe a witness not to testify in a criminal case. After 13 hours of deliberation, a Providence jury found Gerard Donley guilty on Thursday of bribery, conspiracy and obstruction of justice. He testified that money he…

Jun 14, 2013 2:15 PM CDT

Federal judge jails estate lawyer as flight risk, nixes ‘bizarre’ effort to revoke plea

A Rhode Island estate planning lawyer’s effort to revoke his guilty plea in a controversial $30 million elder insurance fraud case was a “bizarre” and unjustified “hatchet job” on Joseph Caramadre’s former counsel, a federal judge said Monday. U.S. District Judge William Smith not only nixed Caramadre’s bid for a…

May 21, 2013 11:09 AM CDT

Estate lawyer asks to revoke plea, now wants trial in $30M elder insurance fraud case

A Rhode Island estate planning lawyer is seeking to revoke the plea agreement he made last year near the outset of what was expected to be a lengthy trial in a controversial $30 million fraud case. Supporters said attorney Joseph Caramadre did nothing wrong by using the identities of elderly…

Jan 14, 2013 7:51 PM CST

Lawyer Accused of Misusing IDs of Terminally Ill in $30M Investment Scheme Takes Plea

As testimony was about to resume Monday in a federal trial that had been expected to continue for months, a Rhode Island estate planning lawyer and a former employee accused of misusing the identities of dying individuals in a $30 million investment scheme both took a plea. Attorney Joseph Caramadre,…

Nov 19, 2012 6:30 PM CST

Trial Begins for Estate Planning Lawyer Who Bought Annuities for the Dying; Was His Idea Legal?

Updated: Trial has begun–and, much sooner than expected, ended–for a Rhode Island estate planning attorney who was federally indicted (PDF) last year after being accused of making $15 million or more, with the help of others, by defrauding dying individuals into allowing insurance investments to be made in their names…

Nov 14, 2012 9:34 PM CST

Fined $15 Over Cockatoo’s Saucy Squawks, Bird’s Owner Is Appealing on Constitutional Grounds

It isn’t so much the $15 fine as the constitutional principle at issue, according to a Rhode Island woman who owns a cockatoo who reportedly squawks a blue streak. Lynne L. Taylor has already appealed to state superior court a Sept. 17 finding by Municipal Court Judge Joel Gerstenblatt that…

Sep 28, 2012 9:08 PM CDT

School Concludes Bias Law Bars Father-Daughter Dances

A school district in Cranston, R.I., has decided to ban father-daughter and mother-son activities because of fears they are illegal under gender discrimination law. The superintendent of the school district in Cranston, R.I., acted after a single mom complained that her daughter was not able to attend a father-daughter dance,…

Sep 19, 2012 11:00 AM CDT

As More States Enact Social Host Laws, Parents Face Jail Time for Kids’ Drinking Parties

Parents are increasingly targeted for their children’s at-home drinking parties under social host laws now on the books in 28 states. Parents can face criminal or civil penalties under the laws if they permit underage teens to drink on their property, no matter who supplies the alcohol and even if…

Sep 12, 2012 12:44 PM CDT

Rhode Island Governor Loses Battle to Keep Inmate from Potential US Death Penalty Prosecution

Rhode Island Gov. Lincoln Chafee says he is evaluating his options after a federal appeals court ruled he must hand over a murder defendant for federal prosecution. Chafee had refused to surrender defendant Jason Pleau because of the possibility the feds would seek the death penalty, an option he opposes,…

May 8, 2012 3:10 PM CDT

Ex-Lawyer Pleads Guilty to Bank Fraud in $1.1M Mortgage Scheme

A disbarred lawyer has pleaded guilty in federal court in Rhode Island to multiple counts of bank fraud and filing false tax returns. Prosecutors says James Levitt, 66, submitted fraudulent applications to obtain $1.1 million in mortgage financing in 2006 and 2007, according to the Associated Press and WPRI. He…

Feb 2, 2012 8:48 PM CST