Attorney Disbarred After Mishandling Over $659K in Tragic Toddler Death

• Prominent Detroit attorney Gregory Rohl has been disbarred and ordered to pay over $659,000 in restitution.
• The disbarment stems from Rohl's failure to distribute wrongful death settlement funds to the family of a 3-year-old girl.
• The child, Lilliana, died in 2017 after a 350-pound table fell on her at a Head Start program.
• Rohl pleaded no contest to charges of misappropriating and failing to distribute court-ordered shares.
• Rohl claims his deceased business partner and office manager were partly responsible for the missing funds.

The failure to distribute court-ordered shares directly impacted a grieving family, denying them the financial support intended to compensate for an unimaginable loss.

A prominent Detroit lawyer, Gregory Rohl, has been disbarred from practicing law and ordered to pay a substantial restitution exceeding $659,000. This severe disciplinary action follows Rohl's handling of a wrongful death case where the family of a deceased 3-year-old child never received the court-ordered settlement funds.

The disbarment became effective on October 1, stemming from a Michigan ruling that found Rohl responsible for misappropriating and failing to distribute shares of the settlement. The ruling mandates Rohl to repay $659,821.44 in restitution, in addition to $1,446.14 in other associated costs.

The case at the heart of Rohl's disbarment involves the tragic accidental death of a 3-year-old girl named Lilliana. In 2017, Lilliana died after a 350-pound table detached from a wall mount while she was attending a Head Start program located at St. Albert the Great Catholic Church in Dearborn Heights, Michigan.

Lilliana's mother, Tabatha Kerr, has been relentlessly pursuing the settlement funds awarded to her family, which includes Lilliana's twin sister and a brother. Kerr expressed her ongoing struggle, stating, "I promised my daughter that I would fight until my very last breath, and unfortunately, I’m still here fighting."

Gregory Rohl entered a plea of no contest to the Michigan ruling concerning his disbarment and the restitution order. The official ruling characterized Rohl's conduct as "contrary to justice, ethics, honesty or good morals," highlighting the serious nature of his professional misconduct.

In an online statement, Rohl asserted, "I have never knowingly taken any monies from any client ever, but the account was in my name making me ultimately responsible for any loss." He further claimed that a deceased business partner and his former office manager bore partial responsibility for the missing funds in Lilliana's case. Rohl, who established his law office in 1994, is also known for his involvement in the legal team that defended Dr. Jack Kevorkian during the 1990s.

The disbarment and significant restitution order underscore the critical importance of attorney accountability and the ethical handling of client funds. The failure to distribute court-ordered shares directly impacted a grieving family, denying them the financial support intended to compensate for an unimaginable loss.

This outcome serves as a stark reminder of the profound trust placed in legal professionals and the severe consequences that arise when that trust is breached through the misappropriation of funds. The legal system's response aims to ensure justice for the victims and uphold the integrity of the profession.

Source: Original reporting via ClickonDetroit.com