Suppose you're the wife of a judge in New Hampshire and wish to file for a divorce. If the divorce is contested, you need a lawyer, hopefully one who won't face the judge in other proceedings. Not very easy in this small state. Suppose your husband is a NH Supreme Court justice, and keep in mind that the appellate court in divorce cases is the Supreme Court. Some of the wives said they could find no lawyer to represent them.
Theo Kamasinski has been involved in some of these cases. He doesn't have a law degree and he's not a member of the NH Bar, but his services are in demand. He has also been a vocal critic of the court system here. Many in the NH Bar see him as a dangerous person who would do us a favor if he left the state.
The following Email does a good job of showing the essence of both sides of the story. I've deleted personal Email addresses for privacy and changed the formatting for readability. By the time I received it some of the original formatting had been lost. I've also limited the content to what Kamasinski forwarded. I believe the text is accurate, and that's the important part.
Organizations referenced include The New Hampshire Trial Lawyers Association (an alternate page is the old home page for Coughlin, Rainboth, Murphy and Lown), Brennan, Caron, Lenehan & Iacopino, and Hall, Hess, Stewart, Murphy & Brown (now doing business as Hall, Stewart, Murphy, Brown & Hutchins). However, it's clear that most of the discussion below represents personal opinions and deliberations, not the ultimate public stand of the organizations involved.
During this discussion Peter Hutchins was the president of the NH Bar Association, which ultimately did take an active role in supporting a court order to enjoin Kamasinski from practicing law.
From: Theodore Kamasinski [email]
Sent: Friday, November 16, 2001 4:17 PM
To: Mark Travis; Kevin Landrigan; Kenneth E. Blevens, Sr.; Karen Weston;
Judith at Hotmail; Henry Amsden; Harriet Cady; Gary Scott; Fran
Wendelboe; Dick Bosa; David Welch; Daniel Gildea; Dan Wise; Dan Tuohy;
Caroline G. Douglas; Attorney John Laboe; Andrew Hay; Attorney Charles
Dibble; Sven Wiberg; Tony Soltani; Prof. Richard Hesse; Phyllis Woods;
Philip Cobbin; Paul Mirski
Subject: Don't shout, somebody may be listening!
From: "Ronald J. Caron" [email]
Folks:
Be careful in transmitting tactical suggestions via this ListSevre. It
would not surprise me in the least that Mr. K is either subscribed or
has a cohort subscribed. Do not underestimate him.
RC
-----Original Message-----
From: bounce-nhtlamembers-34770@lyris.depoconnect.com
On Behalf Of Ronald J. Caron
Sent: Friday, October 26, 2001 10:31 AM
To: NHTLA Member Information Exchange
Subject: [nhtlamembers] RE: Petition of Kamasinski
From: "Ronald J. Caron" [email]
Responding to Tim's suggestion RE Amicus Committee involvement RE Kamasinski:
I represent one of the Parties in whose case I argued for the Order to
strike the Appearance filed by Kamasinski in that case. The Court
(Lynn, J.) sustained our objection and struck the Appearance he filed.
Additionally, my partner (Bill Brennan) represented Steve Thayer, of
course, and Kamasinski "represented" Judy Thayer. I will share the
research completed in preparing the Motion I filed (and other evidence
we have compiled in preparation for the resulting hearing). But I
should not participate directly in defending against Kamasinski's recent
filing. I will share info, research and thoughts as would be necessary.
I do believe NHBA should act in this Kamasinski matter. I believe Mr. K
is dangerous to the public at large. I believe Mr. K seeks to
"represent" people simply to use them as a surfboard to advance his own
demented goals, using his "client" as a wind-up toy on the road to get
where he wants.
CAUTION as to what is transmitted through this ListServe. Mr. K is
indeed an intelligent man and should not be underestimated.
Ronald J. Caron, Esquire
BRENNAN, CARON, LENEHAN & IACOPINO
85 Brook Street
Manchester, New Hampshire 03104
Telephone: (603) 668-8300
FAX: (603) 668-1029
Cell Phone: (603) 493-3273
E-Mail: [email]
Web Site: http://www.bclilaw.com/
STATEMENT OF CONFIDENTIALITY: This e-mail, and any attachments, is
intended only for use by the addressee and may contain legally
privileged or confidential information. If you are not the intended
recipient of this e-mail, any dissemination, distribution or copying of
this e-mail, and any attachments, is prohibited. If you have received
this e-mail in error, please immediately notify me by telephone,
permanently delete the original and any copy of the e-mail. Thank you.
RJC
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Timothy C. Coughlin [email]
>> Sent: 25 October, 2001 5:19 PM
>> To: NHTLA Member Information Exchange
>> Subject: [nhtlamembers] RE: Petition of Kamasinski
>>
>> From: "Timothy C. Coughlin" [email]
>>
>> Regarding Kamasinski, in general, it may be that the NHTLA can
>> help via its Amicus Committee. The Comm. is used primarily, of
>> course, to help in submitting amicus briefs to the S.C. in cases where the
>> NHTLA feels public access to the courts or adequate compensation, or other
>> matters we collectively feel important, are affected. I'm not saying
>> we ought to get involved, as it may be that we shouldn't, but it is an
>> option. Ron Caron is the chair of the Amicus Comm. I also understand
>> he's not very busy and has a lot of extra time on his hands (!)
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Peter E. Hutchins [email]
>> Sent: Thursday, October 25, 2001 4:00 PM
>> To: NHTLA Member Information Exchange
>> Subject: [nhtlamembers] Petition of Kamasinski
>>
>>
>> From: "Peter E. Hutchins" [email]
>> As some of you may be aware, Theo Kamasinski has filed a Petition for
>> Declaratory Judgment in the Merrimack County Superior Court against
>> the Attorney General and myself (as pres. of the bar - see RSA 311:7-a
>> (II)) seeking an order that he is not "commonly" practicing law in violation
>> of RSA 311:7. He was found to be so practicing by 2 different superior
>> court judges in 2 different cases last week, and disqualified from those
>> cases.
>>
>> This is a matter of relevance to trial attorneys since 311:7 deals with
>> appearances in court by non-attorneys.
>>
>> Anyone interested in participating in this case, let me know.
>>
>> Thanks.
>>
>> Hutch
>>
>> THIS COMMUNICATION IS CONFIDENTIAL, AND INTENDED ONLY FOR THE USE OF
>> THOSE TO WHOM IT IS DIRECTED.
>>
>> Peter E. Hutchins, Esq.
>> Hall, Hess, Stewart, Murphy & Brown, PA
>> 80 Merrimack St.
>> Manchester, NH 03101
>> (603) 669-8080
>> Fax: (603) 669-0903
From: "Timothy C. Coughlin" [email]
Hutch:
Please keep those of us on this forum abreast of the hearings, as I,
for one, considering the plaintiff to be a scourge upon our profession,
would poke my head into at any such hearing, if appropriate.
Thanks.
-----Original Message-----
From: Peter E. Hutchins [email]
Sent: Thursday, October 25, 2001 4:00 PM
To: NHTLA Member Information Exchange
Subject: [nhtlamembers] Petition of Kamasinski
From: "Peter E. Hutchins" [email]
As some of you may be aware, Theo Kamasinski has filed a Petition for
Declaratory Judgment in the Merrimack County Superior Court against the
Attorney General and myself (as pres. of the bar - see RSA 311:7-a (II))
seeking an order that he is not "commonly" practicing law in violation
of RSA 311:7. He was found to be so practicing by 2 different superior
court judges in 2 different cases last week, and disqualified fr om
those cases.
This is a matter of relevance to trial attorneys since 311:7 deals with
appearances in court by non-attorneys.
Anyone interested in participating in this case, let me know.
Thanks.
Hutch
THIS COMMUNICATION IS CONFIDENTIAL, AND INTENDED ONLY FOR THE USE OF
THOSE TO WHOM IT IS DIRECTED.
Peter E. Hutchins, Esq.
Hall, Hess, Stewart, Murphy & Brown, PA
80 Merrimack St.
Manchester, NH 03101
(603) 669-8080
Fax: (603) 669-0903
Contact Paula Werme, Esq. or return to Law Practice home page.
Written 2003 October 24, last updated 2003 October 25.