Whitmer" for her nursing home policies during the COVID-19 pandemic, called for increased transparency standards for state government and voiced opposition to abortion. They need to see a party actually advocating for the values we espouse. DePerno took on "several cases regarding the unconstitutional nature of these lockdowns and mandates.". Taxation 1994-95 University of Detroit Mercy School of Law Subject. Other Republican activists also lined up behind DePerno, citing his aggressive approach. 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. 62. In 2016, Buhl filed a request asking the Michigan Attorney Grievance Commission to investigate DePerno after he was accused of legal malpractice. DePerno's work with Courser led to a years-long defamation suit against The News and staff member Chad Livengood, who broke the story of Courser's affair and the lawmaker's scheme to hide it. Forton endorsed Karamo before the first round of voting. The initial tallies in the Republican stronghold had Democrat Joe Biden winning by 3,260 votes with 62% of the overall total to Trump's 36%. DePerno lost to Democratic Attorney General Dana Nessel by 9 percentage points in November. Former state Rep. Aaron Miller, a Republican from Sturgis, said Karamo's victory indicated some Michigan Republicans want to keep losing elections. 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. The COVID-19 pandemic hit Michigan weeks after the DePerno bench warrant was signed. "I'll pass. An incumbent attorney general hasn't lost reelection in Michigan since 1954. But he never did, the Moffits attorney alleged in the malpractice suit. In 2016, Buhlfiled a requestasking the Michigan Attorney Grievance Commission to investigate DePerno after he was accused of legal malpractice. Gaining unauthorized access to voting machines is a felony in Michigan. DePerno has also said he supports and would enforce the states 1931 ban on abortion. Robert Baker, DePerno's lawyer for a portion of the case, told the court at one point that DePerno had "virtually no assets," according to a court transcript. I think the party recreates itself locally. DePerno skyrocketed to fame in conservative circles in the aftermath of the 2020 election, alleging voting machines were compromised because unofficial results were skewed toward President Joe Biden before they were corrected. 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. Greenlee said Republicans were responding to his message of activating and engaging the delegates. The sides eventually settled out of court in 2008. A Republican-led state Senate panel that spent months investigating the contest foundno evidence of widespread fraud. DePerno holds an English degree from the University of Michigan, a law degree from the University of Detroit Mercy and a graduate degree in taxation from the New York University School of Law. Ive always proven that I dont back down from anyone, he said. DePerno was fired from one law firm, fought over client records after leaving a second firm and was accused of assaulting a client amid a fee dispute, according to court documents and transcripts reviewed by Bridge. The Antrim County case made DePerno a national figure in Trumps campaign to overturn the election but prompted criticism from a Republican-led Michigan Senate panel that accused him of making false claims for personal profit, echoing allegations that marred DePernos legal career nearly two decades earlier. We report because the news impacts all of us. "Some attorneys are more challenging than others," Dodge said in an email. Karamo's election as state party chair marks the first time in state history that both the Michigan Republican and Democratic parties are chaired by Black women. Trump, who's campaigning for the GOP presidential nomination in 2024, endorsed DePerno for party chair in January. He is currently representing an Ann Arbor firefighter who he said was fired for refusing to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Matt DePerno, a Republican candidate for Michigan attorney general, has appeared at Capitol rallies calling for a forensic audit of the 2020 presidential election. A year ago this month, DePerno stood on the steps of the state Capitol in front of a banner that told people to "demand a forensic audit" of the November 2020 election. DePerno got his law degree at the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law in 1994. 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DePerno is a leading advocate for a forensic audit of the 2020 election. Matthew DePerno was born in Warren and raised in Troy, Michigan. Who's in, out of race? But in the 32 months that followed, DePerno launched a campaign for attorney general, won the Republican Party's nomination and poured $130,000 of his own money into his bid, representing about 13% of his total fundraising. They need to see a well-organized party. "Anyone who does not treat systemic election corruption commensurate with the state and national threat it is, should be disqualified from any position in party leadership," Karamo's plan said. The settlement was complicated by another lawsuit from DePernos professional liability insurer, who sued him in an attempt to drop him and cancel his policy. The nomination wont be official until a separate August convention, but the early endorsement will allow a candidate to raise funds and campaign as the presumed nominee. In at least one instance, DePerno admitted that he falsified billing to a clients account, the law firms attorney said in a court filing. Repeating the Big Lie is dangerous and presents a very serious threat to our democracy," said Lavora Barnes, chairwoman of the Michigan Democrat Party, in April. 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. Matthew DePerno: What to know about Michigan GOP attorney general candidate. And in a new sign of former President Donald Trump's diminishing influence, the women beat the Trump-endorsed ticket of Matt DePerno and Garrett Soldano to replace MAGA loyalist Meshawn Maddock and establishment fundraiser Ron Weiser. The people of MIchigan are tired of the rising crime, threats to parental rights and an ongoing lack of trust in government. Washtenaw County Circuit Judge Timothy Connors signed a warrant in February 2020 for DePerno's arrest after he failed to appear for a creditor's exam in an unsuccessful defamation case brought by his client, former state Rep. Todd Courser, against The Detroit News. On February 20, 2014, Mr. DePerno physically grabbed (me) by the shirt and informed me that if I did not immediately pay the attorney fees owed that my wife and I would lose our home in a matter of weeks, Ronald Moffit, who died in 2019, said in his sworn affidavit. 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. He also has a big fan inside the Michigan Republican Party: co-chair Meshawn Maddock, who endorsed him earlier this month, an unusual move considering the party traditionally is expected to stay out of contested convention races. Then, on June 23, 2021, DePerno filed a motion to have the bench warrants set aside "nunc pro tunc," essentially meaning the cancellation should be retroactive to the day the warrants were issued in February 2020. 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 . DePerno is well-known and well-liked by many clients, but his legal career has been marked by some discord. But court records show judges have repeatedly sanctioned or complained about his courtroom conduct. But he never did, the Moffits attorney alleged in the malpractice suit. 0:57. He also represented former state Rep. Todd Courser in a sex scandal cover-up case, which ended with Courser pleading no contest to willful neglect of duty by a public officer. Connors previously ordered DePerno and Courser to pay a sanction of $79,701. 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. State Rep. Steve Carra, R-Three Rivers, has been an outspoken DePerno supporter. For the 53-year-old attorney's detractors, he's a threat to democracy with a questionable professional record that includes an ongoing state criminal investigation into a scheme to access voting tabulators. She previously worked as an assistant prosecutor in the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office. DePerno, who had worked with the Moffits on tax issues in the past, allegedly convinced the couple he could negotiate with the IRS. Sponsor In 2005, DePerno launched his own law firm in Kalamazoo County, where he's practiced tax and real estate law. On. The guys got no ethics at all, William Buhl, a retired Van Buren County Circuit Court judge and former Republican, told Bridge. Him and I had discussions as to whether I should run, DePerno said. Forton said his decision was meant to ensure that a "grassroots-type" hopeful had a chance to win. Instead, DePerno filed a counter-claim against the insurance company without the knowledge or consent of his clients, which prompted the insurer to stop its initial payment. LaBrant labeled DePerno a "fool" with a "checkered past.". Especially if the Judge has expressed a dislike for rapists., Kent County Circuit Court Judge Donald A. Johnston, who presided over the disqualification hearing, denied DePernos request to remove Dodge, and noted that, I dont know of any judges that have ever expressed a like for rapists.. 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. "The creditor's exam was scheduled for today," Connors said in court on Feb. 7, 2020, according to a transcript. Civil rights issues are a main focus of Nessel's, and she founded the Fair Michigan Foundation. "Although we didn't emerge victorious tonight, I believe we sent a strong message to Lansing. Thus began another unexpected legal fight, as the Moffits hired a new attorney to stop the foreclosure sale and sue DePerno for legal malpractice, alleging he fought their insurer without their consent, overbilled and padded billings, including a $13,000 charge to reassemble their case file after DePerno parted ways with his law firm at the time, Veritas Group. 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. As he's campaigned for attorney general, DePerno vowed to "investigate and prosecute Gov. Lansing Matt DePerno, who lost his bid for attorney general but has been a favorite of former President Donald Trump, announced Monday that he wants to be the Michigan Republican Party's . Not too many people would have stuck by my family and myself like Matt has.". Dodge has since retired and told Bridge Michigan he did not remember the dispute well. On February 20, 2014, Mr. DePerno physically grabbed (me) by the shirt and informed me that if I did not immediately pay the attorney fees owed that my wife and I would lose our home in a matter of weeks, Ronald Moffit, who died in 2019, said in hissworn affidavit. Matt and Laura have three wonderful children who are all current or former students at Michigan State University (MSU). About. Some Michigan Republicans say they are . Taxation 1994-95 University of Detroit Mercy School of Law A secretary at DePernos second law firm the Veritas Group said in a sworn affidavit that she had heard yelling from the conference room as he met with the Moffits. Were looking forward to a party thats successful," Karamo said. Vote Furyk. I have always supported Matt DePerno, said state Rep. Angela Rigas, R-Caledonia, as she entered the convention on Saturday. You must be logged in to post a comment Muskegon County Prosecutor D.J. DePerno wasn't paying attention in first grade when he was told how to behave himself, Magistrate Joseph Scoville said in announcing the sanctions at a May 2012 hearing, according to a transcript reviewed by Bridge. DePerno also transferred "his interest in the marital home" to his wife's trust for $1, according to the lawyers for The News. The Michigan Court of Appeals ultimately upheld the decision to allow Dodge to remain a judge. Michigans nonpartisan, nonprofit news source. Michiganders deserve more from their elected officials, and as American Citizens, our constitutional right to ensure fair, free, and secure elections. "They don't make guys like him anymore. DePerno told the Lansing publication Gongwer News Service that he had spoken with a sheriff who said his agency wasn't going to enforce the warrant and it became a "nonissue.". I just think this guy is going to be looking for election fraud under rocks," LaBrant said. Nessel's office began its investigation in February, before DePerno was her opponent. That happens all the time, and then things are resolved.. Matt DePerno, an attorney general candidate endorsed by former President Donald Trump, sued the firm over his firing and denied the allegations in court. Matt DePerno, an attorney general candidate endorsed by former President Donald Trump, sued the firm over his firing and denied the allegations in court. DePerno, 53, is a Portage-based attorney who primarily works on tax cases and worked primarily in Kalamazoo and Van Buren counties. He will have a staff of more than 500 people, and his . Elections 2022. DePerno had been endorsed by former President Donald Trump. He also represented former state Rep. Todd Courser in a sex scandal cover-up case, which ended with Courser. Karamo, considered a favorite among the party's grassroots but viewed as divisive among the establishment, beat out former attorney general candidate Matt DePerno, 58% to 42%, in the third round of voting. The grievance commission can also privately admonish an attorney or place them on contractual probation, but those lighter punishments are not made public. In a Feb. 26, 2020, filing in the Court of Appeals, DePerno addressed the warrants facing him and his client. Some of DePerno's arguments became the basis for election deniers across the country, LaBrant said. In the Republican Party, the top fundraisers in the most recent semiannual reporting period were: Tudor Dixon (Governor) - $7,362,895. But he told Bridge he cannot discuss details because of a confidential settlement. Karamo was elected as party chairwoman last month, defeating 10 other candidates including Trump-backed former attorney general candidate Matthew DePerno. Before the November election, she unsuccessfully sued and asked a judge to require residents of Detroit, Michigan's largest city, to vote in person or obtain their ballots in person at the clerk's office. Those allegations, contained in never-before-reported documents out of Kalamazoo County Circuit Court, were only made public because DePerno sued the firm in an attempt to cash out his shares and transfer the lease on a company vehicle that was repossessed after his firing. "And I have had people approach me across the state, and they've asked me, 'Where did that money go?'". DePerno, speaking with Bridge, called the assault allegation an "outrageous" attempt by the Moffits to avoid paying their legal bills. Both of the final two candidates, Karamo and DePerno, had denied the results of the 2020 election: Trump's loss. In another suit, the Michigan Court of Appeals dismissed a DePerno request to disqualify a judge from a lawsuit involving lakefront property easement, and highlighted an unusual comparisonDePerno had made in a 2015 court hearing. Before the 2020 campaign, DePerno was most known for representing Courser, a Lapeer area Republican who resigned from the state House after he attempted to cover up an extramarital affair with a fellow lawmaker, and for challenging election results in northern Michigan's Antrim County. Nessel joked about a "drag queen for every school" during an event in June. Kallman declined to detail the issues. All (DePerno) was interested in was generating fees for himself and protecting his way to collect it, Buhl said. Matt is a native of Michigan and has been a Kalamazoo resident with his wife, Laura, since 1994 after receiving his law degree from the University of Detroit Mercy. Matt DePerno has earned the endorsement of the Michigan Republican Party to take on incumbent Democrat Dana Nessel in November. 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. Greenlee advanced to the second round of voting ahead of other contenders Tuscola County GOP Chairman Billy Putman, J.D. The grievance commission, the investigative arm of the Michigan Supreme Court, only makes its findings public if it authorizes formal charges against a lawyer with the state Attorney Discipline Board, which it did not do for DePerno. I think hed be the best to try to unify everybody," Kallman said. The contraceptive prevents ovulation and does not induce an abortion. On his website he states he would declare critical race theory unconstitutional, calling it a Marxist agenda.. He has a wife and three children. . I think its extremely problematic, Truscott told Bridge Michigan. Matthew S. DePerno, Esq. to willful neglect of duty by a public officer. "And yet, here I am running for attorney general to restore integrity, justice and morality in Michigan.. Thank goodness that most of my cases were nothing like this one.. Republican activists across Michigan will soon gather to select the next leader of the Michigan GOP.The decision will help decide the future of the Republican Party after a midterm election that . 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. Buhl, the former judge, had already been retired for six years when he began observing DePernos legal work because he was asked to serve as an expert witness in the Moffits malpractice suit. Nessel defeated Republican former House Speaker Tom Leonard that year by 3 points.
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