Marie E. Matyjaszek
I started reading an article online because the headline caught my eye, telling the story about the disbarment of a Detroit attorney, Gregory Rohl, who misappropriated more than $660,000 of a wrongful-death settlement meant for a grieving family. It quickly became evident, however, that the real focus of the article should have been on proposed legislation that could prevent the death of another child.
In January of 2017, Lilliana Kerr was enjoying recess at a Head Start school located at St. Albert the Great Parish in Dearborn Heights when a wall-mounted table collapsed and fell on her during recess. The cafeteria table had been recalled and should have been removed in 2007, according to court documents in the resulting wrongful death case.
Lilliana, who was 3 years old at the time of her death, left behind her mother, Tabatha, older brother Jayden, and her twin sister Tieranie, who are now 19 and 13, respectively.
The tragedy inspired an ongoing advocacy effort for “Lilliana’s Law,” otherwise known as Michigan House Bill No. 4167 that was introduced in 2021. The proposed state legislative measure would mandate regular health and safety inspections for school facilities and pubic tracking of equipment hazards. The proposed law would require the Department of Health and Human Services to publish guidelines for inspecting school premises for both health and safety violations. Any violations would have to be corrected within 14 days after the inspection report was submitted, with verification provided.
The misappropriation of the settlement is just another devastating loss to the family, who have yet to see accountability and justice occur for Lilliana. The total settlement was $2.5 million, but the portion earmarked for Lilliana’s siblings has never appeared in their accounts.
“They were supposed to get theirs and they never did,” said Lilliana’s mother, Tabatha Kerr.
According to a decision from the Michigan Attorney Discipline Board in disbarring the Detroit attorney, Rohl improperly used settlement funds, failed to release money designated for the children despite court orders, and later made false statements regarding the disposition of those funds.
Rohl maintains that he never knowingly took any money and placed the blame on his deceased partner and office manager.
For more information and how you can help, go to https://lillianaslaw.com.
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Marie Matyjaszek is a Judicial Attorney at the Washtenaw County Trial Court; however, the views expressed in this column are her own. She can be reached by emailing her at matyjasz@hotmail.com.
In January of 2017, Lilliana Kerr was enjoying recess at a Head Start school located at St. Albert the Great Parish in Dearborn Heights when a wall-mounted table collapsed and fell on her during recess. The cafeteria table had been recalled and should have been removed in 2007, according to court documents in the resulting wrongful death case.
Lilliana, who was 3 years old at the time of her death, left behind her mother, Tabatha, older brother Jayden, and her twin sister Tieranie, who are now 19 and 13, respectively.
The tragedy inspired an ongoing advocacy effort for “Lilliana’s Law,” otherwise known as Michigan House Bill No. 4167 that was introduced in 2021. The proposed state legislative measure would mandate regular health and safety inspections for school facilities and pubic tracking of equipment hazards. The proposed law would require the Department of Health and Human Services to publish guidelines for inspecting school premises for both health and safety violations. Any violations would have to be corrected within 14 days after the inspection report was submitted, with verification provided.
The misappropriation of the settlement is just another devastating loss to the family, who have yet to see accountability and justice occur for Lilliana. The total settlement was $2.5 million, but the portion earmarked for Lilliana’s siblings has never appeared in their accounts.
“They were supposed to get theirs and they never did,” said Lilliana’s mother, Tabatha Kerr.
According to a decision from the Michigan Attorney Discipline Board in disbarring the Detroit attorney, Rohl improperly used settlement funds, failed to release money designated for the children despite court orders, and later made false statements regarding the disposition of those funds.
Rohl maintains that he never knowingly took any money and placed the blame on his deceased partner and office manager.
For more information and how you can help, go to https://lillianaslaw.com.
—————
Marie Matyjaszek is a Judicial Attorney at the Washtenaw County Trial Court; however, the views expressed in this column are her own. She can be reached by emailing her at matyjasz@hotmail.com.
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