ALFRED (AP) – York County Probate Judge Robert Nadeau has become the target of separate complaints by a former client and former associates in his law firm.

Nadeau denied that he violated rules of professional conduct by having an extramarital affair with the client. The unidentified former client filed the complaint with the Maine Board of Overseers of the Bar.

In court papers filed in response to a civil action by two former law associates, Nadeau admitted he had the affair with a former client, but “only after the client and I had agreed to the termination of our professional relationship.”

The matter came to light as a result of the lawsuit by Amy McGarry and Pamela Holmes, who left Nadeau’s law firm. They filed a complaint in York County Superior Court over terms of their employment contract with him.

McGarry and Holmes asked that Nadeau cease filing complaints against clients that the two claim as theirs and that Nadeau stop billing those clients.

Nadeau asked that the lawsuit be sealed because it contained information that could jeopardize the rights of a former client, but his request was denied.

In court documents, McGarry and Holmes said they decided to leave the firm when they became aware that Nadeau was committing unprofessional conduct, which was putting them at risk of financial liability, bar discipline and loss of professional reputation in the community.

In his response to the civil suit, Nadeau claims that the statements of McGarry and Holmes mask a history of unacceptable, embarrassing and unprofessional conduct, substandard legal work, incompetence and poor business practices while they were employed by his firm.

Nadeau said he expects the complaint to bar overseers to be dismissed.

and he plans to run for re-election next November.

AP-ES-11-21-03 1318EST



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