More:As Michigan AG race narrows, Nessel's comments, cases take center stage. I try not to get emotional when I talk about the guy," Dernis said. Lansing Republican Matt DePerno's embrace of former President Donald Trump's unproven election fraud claims moved the Kalamazoo trial lawyer from political obscurity to the front lines. DePerno called Buhls accusations total nonsense and told Bridge the matter was ultimately dismissed by the grievance commission, as it should be., While Buhl said the professional code of conduct for attorneys prohibits him from revealing results of the grievance commission investigation, he called DePerno's characterization of dismissal "the farthest thing from the truth.. I honestly believe on the first vote shes going to have the most votes," Forton said in an interview on the convention floor of Karamo. "From his dangerous stances on abortion and birth control, to his embrace of Donald Trumps most fringe election conspiracy theories, its clear that Michigan needs to reelect Dana Nessel as AG.". As recently as last month, he criticized the GOP-led Legislature for failing to. A year later, with the fire reimbursement case seemingly resolved, DePerno presented the Moffits with a $109,879 check from their insurer $13,421 less than the original payment offered three years prior and a $137,779.38 bill for his legal services, according to the malpractice lawsuit. The probe is completely ridiculous and part of the reason DePerno decided to run for attorney general, he told Bridge, likening it "totalitarianism" since Nessel's office battled him as opposing counsel in the Antrim County case. But six days after the Moffits refused to pay his fees, DePerno took action to try and collect: He began foreclosure proceedings to sell the Moffits new home and the land where their old home had burned down, according to court filings. ", We're not just a news organization, we're also your neighbors. DePerno committed fraud, deceit and dishonesty with regards to bogus billing, duplicate billing and write offs, in addition to other wrongful acts, his former law firm Kreis, Enderle, Calendar and Hudgins PC alleged in a 2006 legal filing. Baker didn't respond to a request for comment. At issue was DePernos effort to remove Cass County Judge Michael Dodge from the case, arguing the judge could not be impartial because he owned property on a separate lake. It was a "trick," DePerno told the state Court of Appeals on Feb. 26, 2020. The ProAssurance Casualty Company alleged DePerno made unreasonable demands of attorneys they had hired to represent him in the Moffits malpractice suit. For as little as $1 a month, you can keep Manchester-focused news coverage alive. Who's in, out of race? Bob LaBrant, a longtime Republican lawyer who previously worked for the Michigan Chamber of Commerce, said he cast his absentee ballot for Nessel this fall. Thanks for submitting! John Engler. But DePernos critics say GOP delegates should take a closer look at his legal career, which reveals a series of disputes with colleagues, judges and clients. DePerno took on "several cases regarding the unconstitutional nature of these lockdowns and mandates.". Gretchen Whitmer also won another term with Democrats taking control of the Legislature for the first time in 40 years. Karamo had 58% of the vote on the . After realizing there were problems with the numbers, Antrim County Clerk Sheryl Guy's office canvassed the election results and reported official numbers. "And I have had people approach me across the state, and they've asked me, 'Where did that money go?'". Perry Johnson (Governor) - $270,000. But he told Bridge he cannot discuss details because of a confidential settlement. from the New York University School of Law. After leaving that role, she opened her own law firm. Incredibly, the appeals court noted, DePerno made the following analogy: lets assume a Judge was raped. Trump had also endorsed DePerno in that . DePerno later sued the law firm, claiming breach of contract and oppression of a minority shareholder. New York University School of Law Master of Laws (LL.M.) DePerno is a "workaholic" who goes to great lengths for his clients and is like an "encyclopedia" of law and the Constitution, Bailey told Bridge. He alleged oppression of a minority shareholder and said his termination caused extreme mental anguish, emotional distress, shock and humiliation.. Gretchen Whitmer and Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson for "for all the damage they have done" in office. Democrat Attorney General Dana Nessel, a lawyer from Plymouth, Before Matt DePerno launched a bid for attorney general, he cleared up an arrest warrant, As Michigan AG race narrows, Nessel's comments, cases take center stage. Matthew S. DePerno, Esq. "We need somebody who will go in there and stand up for the little guy," Carra said. A vote for Matt is a vote for your civil liberties! A judge rejected the litigation, saying her claims were "unsubstantiated" or misinterpreted Michigan election law. A lawyer by trade, DePerno rose to political prominence challenging the 2020 presidential election results and spearheading a lawsuit over the vote in northern Michigan's Antrim County. Vote Karamo. to willful neglect of duty by a public officer. Rigas described DePerno as the person who can unite the party. DePerno raised nearly $400,000 for an Election Fraud Defense Fund in 2020, and critics have urged him to disclose what he did with that money. Published reports say Nessel's office is asking that a special prosecutor investigate whether the Republican candidate for state attorney general, Matt DePerno, and others should be charged in . Matthew DePerno, who is running for the Michigan Republican party's nomination for state attorney general, speaks at a rally hosted by former President Donald Trump on April 2, 2022 near. As a tax attorney who worked primarily in Kalamazoo and Van Buren counties, his legal career has been marked by discord. DePerno, 53, is a Portage-based attorney who primarily works on tax cases and worked primarily in Kalamazoo and Van Buren counties. During her speech before the first vote, Karamo touted her decision last year not to concede the secretary of state race to Benson in November and said the party's current leadership operated like a "political mafia." But court records show law firm colleagues confronted DePerno in October 2005 and presented him with evidence detailed in a confidential memo included in public filings, along with 190 pages of internal billing documents. She has repeatedly made unproven and false claims about Michigan's voting system. 469 views. Aug. 15:Report: Trump allies sought election data in Antrim, Wayne countiesApril 23:Michigan GOP endorses Trump favorites DePerno, Karamo at conventionApril 21:DePerno loses another bid for Antrim County audit as court dismisses appealApril 12:Trump favorite Matt DePerno back in court, seeks another Antrim County audit. I just think this guy is going to be looking for election fraud under rocks," LaBrant said. Greenlee advanced to the second round of voting ahead of other contenders Tuscola County GOP Chairman Billy Putman, J.D. Samantha DePerno, 19, began her sophomore year at MSU this past Fall, 2021. Whitmer won her first term by 9 points over Republican Bill Schuette in 2018. "We tried to plot our strategy that way. I've taken on tough cases. It's unclear why DePerno was never arrested. He is currently representing anAnn Arbor firefighterwho he said was fired for refusing to get vaccinated against COVID-19. "I don't have a bad word to say about him, and other than people he grew up with and has been around his whole life, I probably got to know him better than anybody since the November election," Bailey said. People need to see a competent party, Karamo said. While the Kries Enderle law firm and DePerno both declined to discuss his contentious departure given their confidential settlement agreement, DePerno downplayed the acrimonious split in general terms. His work on an unsuccessful lawsuit challenging 2020 results in Antrim County put him on the front lines of Trumps attempt to overturn the election, and litigation involving that effort continues. Karamo, who lost by 14 points to Democratic incumbent Jocelyn Benson in November, made the pitch to delegates that her refusal to concede was an asset. Michigan GOP precinct delegates will vote to endorse a candidate at an April 23 convention that will decide the partys de facto nominee to take on Democratic Attorney General Dana Nessel in November. Ive taken on tough cases. In May 2021, a local judge blocked DePerno's push for an "independent and nonpartisan forensic audit" in Antrim County. But court records show judges have repeatedly sanctioned or complained about his courtroom conduct. He fights the fight for the little guy, and for the good guy. In his original complaint, DePerno alleged he was wrongfully fired from his $110,000 job because he had raised questions about the financial operations of the firm. The Moffits never filed a criminal complaint. DePerno beat Tom Leonard in the second round of voting with 54% of . While the case was ultimately settled, what he saw in pre-trial hearings was abhorrent, Buhl told Bridge Michigan. Putman and Glaser each got 12% on the first ballot. DePerno had padded billings, claimed excessive write offs, manipulated the firms timekeeping system and logged hours with no explanation, according to the interoffice memo prepared by Kreis Enderle administrator Mike Beam. Michiganders deserve more from their elected officials, and as American Citizens, our constitutional right to ensure fair, free, and secure elections. He moved to Kalamazoo Michigan in 1995 after law school, where he currently resides with his wife of 25 years, Laura and their two dogs Toby and Kodak. He is currently representing an Ann Arbor firefighter who he said was fired for refusing to get vaccinated against COVID-19. The billing allegations could be a disqualifying factor for DePerno as a candidate, said John Truscott, a Republican public relations professional who served as press secretary under former Gov. Dodge has since retired and told Bridge Michigan he did not remember the dispute well. Regardless, voters should trust him to run the states largest and most powerful law firm the attorney generals office because he is a fighter, DePerno said. DePerno's campaign didn't respond. She said the party would focus on local issues over national politics. Weve been there for you with daily Michigan COVID-19 news; reporting on the emergence of the virus, daily numbers with our tracker and dashboard, exploding unemployment, and we finally were able to report on mass vaccine distribution. On. Confused, concerned and ultimately outraged that DePerno was charging them nearly $140,000 after losing them $13,000, Ronald Moffit said he confronted DePerno over the legal bill, which led to what the couples attorney would later call battery and assault by DePerno. Some attorneys are more challenging than others, Dodge said in an email. LANSING Former President Donald Trump endorsed Kalamazoo attorney Matt DePerno on Friday in the race for chairman of the Michigan Republican Party. He has been defending America's constitutional civil liberties for over 25 years. Matthew DePerno was born in Warren and raised in Troy, Michigan.

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