On Friday, September 27, 2024, the Director of the Office of Lawyers Professional Responsibility filed a petition with the Minnesota Supreme Court seeking disciplinary action against attorney Larry J. Laver.
The case is entitled “In the Matter of Larry J. Laver.”
The charges cited Minnesota Rules of Professional Conduct 1.3, 1.4(a)(3), 1.4(b), 1.5(a), 1.5(b)(3), 1.7(a)(2), 1.15(c)(4), 1.16(c), 1.16(d),1.16(e)(2), 3.2, 3.3(a)(1), 3.4(c), 4.1, 8.1(a), 8.1(b), 8.4(a), 8.4(c), and 8.4(d).
The petition alleges that Laver engaged in the unauthorized practice of law on multiple occasions after he was indefinitely suspended from practicing law by the Supreme Court last January 2023. According to the filing, Laver had been representing several bail bonding companies as their attorney prior to his suspension. Despite the suspension being in effect, the petition claims Laver continued filing legal documents on behalf of the bonding companies in an effort to protect their interests in cases where bail bonds had been forfeited.
Specifically, Laver is accused of filing petitions, affidavits, legal briefs and representing one of the companies, 1st Call Bail Bonds, at a December 2023 court hearing after his suspension date. The petition details separate instances where Laver filed documents electronically on behalf of the bonding agencies and signed them using his former title as the companies’ attorney. Some documents were also filed under the name “Laver Law Office” allegedly showing Laver held himself out as a practicing lawyer.
In addition to charges of unauthorized practice of law, the petition argues Laver’s actions violated the terms of his suspension. As the companies involved were either corporations or limited liability companies, the petition states they could only be legally represented in court by a licensed attorney. It notes a suspended lawyer cannot provide legal representation even if otherwise qualified.
The Director is asking the Supreme Court to impose discipline on Laver in response to the allegations. If found true, Laver could potentially face further suspension or disbarment for violating the terms of his original disciplinary suspension.
The petition states:
“WHEREFORE, the Director respectfully prays for an order of this Court imposing appropriate discipline, awarding costs and disbursements pursuant to the Rules on Lawyers Professional Responsibility, and for such other, further or different relief as may be just and proper.”
According to avvo.com, Mr. Laver is a Chapter 7 bankruptcy attorney in Woodbury, Minnesota. He acquired his law license in Minnesota in 2002.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
