SUFFOLK, SS.
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS SUPREME JUDICIAL COURT FOR SUFFOLK COUNTY NO: BD-2025-053
IN RE: JANE I. COOGAN
ORDER OF TERM SUSPENSION/PARTIALLY STAYED
This matter came before the Court, (Wendlandt, J.), on an Information and Record of Proceedings pursuant to S.J.C. Rule 4:01, § 8(6), with the recommendation and vote of the Board of Bar Overseers (Board) filed by the Board on July 16, 2025. After a hearing was held on September 26, 2025, attended by assistant bar counsel and the lawyer, and in accordance with the Memorandum of Law dated October 3, 2025; It is ORDERED that: 1. Jane I. Coogan is hereby suspended from the practice of law in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for a period of six (6) months, with three (3) months stayed for a period of three (3) months from the entry date of this order contingent on the following conditions: a. The lawyer shall complete a legal education course on a topic approved by the Office of Bar Counsel and;
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b. The lawyer shall consult with Law Office Assistance Management Program (LOMAP) regarding the e management of her law practice, and pledge to implement LOMAP's recommendation. In accordance with S.J.C. Rule 4:01, § 17(3), the suspension shall be effective thirty (30) days after the date of the entry of this Order. The lawyer, after the entry of this Order, shall not accept any new retainer or engage as a lawyer for another in any new case or legal matter of any nature. During the period between the entry date of this Order and its effective date, however, the lawyer may wind up and complete, on behalf of any client, all matters which were pending on the entry date. It is FURTHER ORDERED that: 2. Within fourteen (14) days of the date of entry of this Order, the lawyer shall: a) file a notice of withdrawal as of the effective date of the suspension with every court, agency, or tribunal before which a matter is pending, together with a copy of the notices sent pursuant to paragraphs 2(c) and 2(d) of this Order, the client's or clients' place of residence, and the case caption and docket number of the
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client's or clients' proceedings;
b) resign as of the effective date of the suspension all appointments as guardian, executor, administrator, trustee, attorney-in-fact, or other fiduciary, attaching to the resignation a copy of the notices sent to the wards, heirs, or beneficiaries pursuant to paragraphs 2(c) and 2(d) of this Order, the place of residence of the wards, heirs, or beneficiaries, and the case caption and docket number of the proceedings, if any; c) provide notice to all clients and to all wards, heirs, and beneficiaries that the lawyer has been suspended; that he is disqualified from acting as a lawyer after the effective date of the suspension; and that, if not represented by co-counsel, the client, ward, heir, or beneficiary should act promptly to substitute another lawyer or fiduciary or to seek legal advice elsewhere, calling attention to any urgency arising from the circumstances of the case; d) provide notice to counsel for all parties (or, in the absence of counsel, the parties) in pending matters that the lawyer has been suspended and, as a consequence, is disqualified from acting as a lawyer after the effective date of the suspension; e) make available to all clients being represented
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in pending matters any papers or other property to which
they are entitled, calling attention to any urgency for obtaining the papers or other property; f) refund any part of any fees paid in advance that have not been earned; and g) close every IOLTA, client, trust or other fiduciary account and properly disburse or otherwise transfer all client and fiduciary funds in his possession, custody or control. All notices required by this paragraph shall be served by certified mail, return receipt requested, in a form approved by the Board. 3. Within twenty-one (21) days after the date of entry of this Order, the lawyer shall file with the Office of the Bar Counsel an affidavit certifying that the lawyer has fully complied with the provisions of this Order and with bar disciplinary rules. Appended to the affidavit of compliance shall be: a) a copy of each form of notice, the names and addresses of the clients, wards, heirs, beneficiaries, attorneys, courts and agencies to which notices were sent, and all return receipts or returned mail received up to the date of the affidavit. Supplemental affidavits shall be filed covering subsequent return receipts and returned
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mail. Such names and addresses of clients shall remain
confidential unless otherwise requested in writing by the lawyer or ordered by the court; b) a schedule showing the location, title and account number of every bank account designated as an IOLTA, client, trust or other fiduciary account and of every account in which the lawyer holds or held as of the entry date of this Order any client, trust or fiduciary funds; c) a schedule describing the lawyer's disposition of all client and fiduciary funds in the lawyer's possession, custody or control as of the entry date of this Order or thereafter; d) such proof of the proper distribution of such funds and the closing of such accounts as has been requested by the bar counsel, including copies of checks and other instruments; e) a list of all other state, federal and administrative jurisdictions to which the lawyer is admitted to practice; f) the residence or other street address where communications to the lawyer may thereafter be directed; and g) any and all bar registration cards issued to the lawyer by the Board of Bar Overseers.
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The lawyer shall re t a i n copies o f a ll not i ces sent and s ha ll
maint a i n comp l e t e r ecords o f t he s t eps t aken t o comply with t he notice requi rement s o f S .J. C . Rule 4: 01 , § 17 . 4. Within t wenty- one (21) days a fter t he ent ry date of t his Order , the l awyer shal l file wi th t he Clerk of t he Supreme J udi c i al Court for Suffolk Count y : a) a copy o f t he a f f i davi t o f compliance requi red by paragr aph 3 o f this Order ; b) a l ist o f a ll o t her s t a t e , f eder al and admi n i s t rat i ve juri sdi ctions t o which t he lawyer i s admitted t o practice ; and c) t he res i dence or o t her s t ree t address wher e communi cations t o t he lawyer may t hereafter be d i rected . 5 . If the l awyer fails t o compl y wi th any o f the t erms and conditions o f t h i s Order , t he Off ice o f Bar Counsel may petition t h i s Court for t he i mmedi ate i mposition of t he r emaini ng balance o f the suspensi on .
By t he Court ,
(Wendl andt, J. )
Al lison s . c artwrightel
Dat ed : Oct ober 7 , 2025
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