Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

PROVIDENCE -- For the third time, lawyer Thomas W. Pearlman, a former Republican legislator and Providence councilman, is in trouble for unethical billing practices, including fee-gouging.

The Rhode Island Supreme Court's chief disciplinary counsel, David D. Curtin, today filed ethics charges against Pearlman, 81, who maintains a law office at 750 East Ave., Pawtucket.

The new disciplinary complaint alleges that Pearlman failed to provide competent counsel to a client, charged unreasonable fees and then, when the client hired a new lawyer, failed to refund fees he had been given but not earned.

Curtin has asked the court's disciplinary board to convene a public hearing on his allegations. Pearlman could face sanctions ranging from a censure to disbarment.

Pearlman was censured by the Supreme Court in 1993 for fee-gouging and in 2004, was suspended from practice for six months for charging unreasonable fees.

 Tags  Rhode Island Rhode Island Supreme Court

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