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Woodruff issues $25K to pay ex-clients, court disciplinary counsel
Superior Court Associate Judge David A. Wiseman ordered yesterday the distribution of $25,536 that disbarred lawyer Stephen C. Woodruff has agreed to pay his former clients and the court in connection with several disciplinary cases filed against him.
Wiseman said that Woodruff has agreed to comply with the assessments in the disbarment order by issuing a check to the Superior Court.
Wiseman said the court is now ready to distribute those funds.
In his disbarment order on June 7, 2013, Wiseman found the lawyer to have 44 violations of the Model Rules of Professional Conduct.
In that order, the judge required Woodruff to pay costs to the court for the prosecution of the disciplinary cases and ordered him to reimburse clients who lodged complaints against him with the CNMI Bar Disciplinary Committee.
In the order of distribution, Wiseman directed the clerk of court to issue checks to eight persons, with varying amounts that range from $3,000 to $100.
Wiseman also ordered the clerk of court to issue a check for $7,913 to the CNMI Bar Association as payment of 50 percent of disciplinary counsel Thomas Clifford’s fees and costs and a check for $7,913 as reimbursement for the Superior Court’s payment of 50 percent of the disciplinary counsel’s fees and costs.
Wiseman noted that while the assignment total includes the disciplinary counsel’s estimated unbilled fees and costs, the court will not reimburse the Bar Association for those amounts until they are billed and paid.
