In the Matter of Diane C. Desautels

SUMMARY¹

The respondent is an attorney duly admitted to the bar of the Commonwealth on December 18, 1989. In around 1992, the respondent joined the law office of her father, Clement T. Desautels, located at 334 Main Street, Southbridge, MA.  

From about December 31, 1999, to December 28, 2011, Clement was on either inactive or retired status.  During that period, Clement occasionally came to the office to prepare tax returns for long-term clients and assist in the probate of estates.  See In re: Clement T. Desautels, No. BD-2013-019.  The respondent was aware of Clement’s activities and that he was on inactive or retired status.

By assisting Clement in engaging in the practice of law while he was on inactive or retired status, the respondent violated Mass. R. Prof. C. 5.5(a).

In mitigation, the respondent did not appreciate that Clement could not perform occasional legal services for clients while on inactive or retired status.

On July 31, 2013, bar counsel filed a petition for discipline, and the parties filed the respondent’s answer and a stipulation in which the parties agreed that the appropriate sanction was public reprimand.  On August 26, 2013, the Board of Bar Overseers voted unanimously to sanction the respondent by public reprimand.  

¹ Compiled by the Board of Bar Overseers based on the record of proceedings before the board.