Closing Lewiston Law Firm Misappropriates Nearly $850,000 in Client Funds
A law firm in Lewiston, the Law Offices of Dionne and Couturier, is under scrutiny after nearly $850,000 in client funds were reportedly misappropriated. The issue came to light following the death of the firm's owner, Paul Dionne, which necessitated the appointment of a receiver to close the practice. During the wind-down process, concerns about misappropriated funds by Mr. Dionne were identified. One affected client, Ron Newell, and his wife Vicki, are still awaiting a nearly $50,000 check from an estate they were managing, two years after the death of Vicki's sister, Karin Russo. The Newells had spent almost $10,000 on bills and cleaning Russo's trailer before selling it, hoping to recoup funds for Russo's granddaughter. The Executive Director of the Board of Overseers of the Bar in Maine, Aria Eee, confirmed the identification of these concerns. 
