About. John Engler. Rigas described DePerno as the person who can unite the party. Karamo defeated unsuccessful GOP attorney general candidate Matt DePerno of Kalamazoo, a fellow election denier who was endorsed in the party chair race by Trump. Matt DePerno, an attorney general candidate endorsed by former President Donald Trump, sued the firm over his firing and denied the allegations in court. She said in her victory speech she plans to move the state forward over the next four years. The ProAssurance Casualty Company alleged DePerno made unreasonable demands of attorneys they had hired to represent him in the Moffits malpractice suit. All (DePerno) was interested in was generating fees for himself and protecting his way to collect it, Buhl said. Kallman had hoped Greenlee would pull out an upset. Matthew has been attacked many times from elected officials, including current Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, but he has not backed down. The Protect the People political action committee called him a "corrupt lawyer" in one of its ads in recent days. But the litigation created four volumes of records at the Kalamazoo County clerk's office. A lawyer by trade, DePerno rose to political prominence challenging the 2020 presidential election results and spearheading a lawsuit over the vote in northern Michigan's Antrim County. Greene once tweeted that DePerno would be an "unmitigated disaster." 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. Asked about that, Castiglia countered that people "are getting sick of the doomsday Dem approach. Whitmer" for her nursing home policies. Dodge has since retired and told Bridge Michigan he did not remember the dispute well. And in early 2022, state Rep. Ryan Berman of Commerce Township, who previously ran for attorney general as a Republican against DePerno, said DePerno's "skeletons have skeletons. DePerno's campaign didn't respond. The office of Dana Nessel, the Michigan attorney general, said that Matthew DePerno and other people had persuaded local clerks in three counties to hand over election equipment. 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 ofmaking false claimsfor personal profit, echoing allegations that marred DePernos legal career nearly two decades earlier. DePerno called Buhls accusations total nonsense and told Bridge the matter was ultimately dismissed by the grievance commission, as it should be., While Buhl said the professional code of conduct for attorneys prohibits him from revealing results of the grievance commission investigation, he called DePerno's characterization of dismissal "the farthest thing from the truth.. "And yet, here I am running for attorney general to restore integrity, justice and morality in Michigan.. The billing allegations could be a disqualifying factor for DePerno as a candidate, said John Truscott, a Republican public relations professional who served as press secretary under former Gov. People need to see a competent party, Karamo said. In 2016, Buhl filed a request asking the Michigan Attorney Grievance Commission to investigate DePerno after he was accused of legal malpractice. But he told Bridge he cannot discuss details because of a confidential settlement. The grievance commission can also privately admonish an attorney or place them on contractual probation, but those lighter punishments are not made public. If you cant abide by the laws and the rules, how do you have the moral authority to prosecute criminals?. DePerno has also represented George Dernis, an Illinois businessman who's been in a years-long legal battle involving property in Michigan. 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. Matthew DePerno is an attorney who serves clients worldwide from his office in Kalamazoo Michigan, USA. 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. DePerno, who had worked with the Moffits on tax issues in the past, allegedly convinced the couple he could negotiate with the IRS. Subject. to willful neglect of duty by a public officer. DePerno is well-known and well-liked by many clients, but his legal career has been marked by some discord. Vote Furyk. 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. 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DePerno was able to obtain jobless assistance by presenting paperwork to the state indicating he was fired for failing to promote a harmonious relationship with the firm, not fraud. The grievance commission can also privately admonish an attorney or place them on contractual probation, but those lighter punishments are not made public. They advanced to a second round before Karamo beat DePerno in the third and final vote. We're not just a news organization, we're also your neighbors. As DePerno worked on the 2020 election, his law office's website linked to a fundraising page that brought in nearly $400,000. As he's campaigned for attorney general, DePerno vowed to "investigate and prosecute Gov. In November 2020, Antrim County resident, William Bailey, hired Matthew to represent him in his lawsuit against Antrim County and the Michigan Secretary of States office, to conduct his own audit of the November general election irregularities in Antrim County. Nessel, the Democratic attorney general, later acknowledged that her office is investigating DePerno but said she recused herself from the probe given the political implications and will appoint a special counsel if charges are warranted. Since then, he's become a favorite among Michigan Republican delegates, and he helped negotiate a deal to delay feuding between party factions at an August convention. during the general election campaign, but a special prosecutor is investigating him and others on allegations they illegally accessed voting machine equipment in their efforts to investigate the election. Thanks for submitting! "Thats what I am counting on, Greene said. On Feb. 6, 2020, Connors signed a bench warrant for DePerno's arrest and for him to be brought before the court "immediately" for failure to appear, according to a document. Metro Detroit lawyer Jalal J. Dallo, who practices criminal defense, said bench warrants are typically ordered when someone is supposed to appear in court but doesn't show up. "Matthew DePerno showed up the day after the election, using our president's name, taking nearly $400,000 from every one of you," Leonard said during a debate in Oakland County. We are honored to have Kari's support in this race, check out the full endorsement! Miller called it a sad day for the GOP. DePerno, 53, is a Portage-based attorney who primarily works on tax cases and worked primarily in Kalamazoo and Van Buren counties. But some Republicans were concerned about DePerno's track record. After leaving that role, she opened her own law firm. DePerno refused. The Michigan Court of Appeals ultimately upheld the decision to allow Dodge to remain a judge. He went on to repeatedly appear in Antrim County court to challenge the November 2020 election results while the warrant was in place. Could that Judge then rule on rape cases, or would that create a bias for the Judge? Tyson Shepard, DePerno's campaign manager, said the candidate would enforce the state's 1931 abortion ban, which prohibits the termination of any pregnancy except if necessary to preserve the life of the mother because it's the policy on the books. Matt attended the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree. Hes also suggested banning Plan B, an emergency contraceptive that can prevent pregnancy if taken within three days of having unprotected sex. 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. The numbers became jumbled during the communication of the unofficial results to the county's election management system. George Dernis, who DePerno has represented in a nearly eight-year legal battle over foreclosure of Michigan properties he'd used as collateral to purchase a grocery store, said DePerno helped guide his family through "hell and back. In early August, Nessel sought a special prosecutor to consider potential charges against DePerno and eight others because of an alleged "conspiracy" to gain improper access to voting machines in Michigan. CONTACT. DePerno has a bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan and later earned law degrees from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law and New York University School of Law. And I continuously showed that throughout my career. I think were going to do local infrastructure and getting back to basics, the blocking and tackling of winning elections.". Email. DePerno formed his campaign committee to run for attorney general 12 days later, on July 14, 2021. DePerno has never been publicly disciplined by the state, according to records from the Attorney Discipline Board. 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. Trump's campaign lawyer, Christina Bobb, worked with DePerno on the convention floor. Who's in, out of race? Karamo had 58% of the vote on the . Elections 2022. Other issues her campaign highlights includes consumer protection, protection for seniors, environmental protection, health care access, and robocall reductions. 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. More:As Michigan AG race narrows, Nessel's comments, cases take center stage. Some of DePerno's arguments became the basis for election deniers across the country, LaBrant said. DePerno worked as a partner in a law firm before opening DePerno Law Office in 2005. The sooner they can return to the party of sensibility and economic prosperity, the sooner they can start winning. DePerno is well-known and well-liked by many clients, but his legal career has been marked by some discord. Could that Judge then rule on rape cases, or would that create a bias for the Judge? 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. 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. LANSING Former President Donald Trump endorsed Kalamazoo attorney Matt DePerno on Friday in the race for chairman of the Michigan Republican Party. 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.. "Someone had to step up and take charge of what was happening. 62. But he told Bridge he cannot discuss details because of a confidential settlement. But he never did, the Moffits attorney alleged in the malpractice suit. Michigans nonpartisan, nonprofit news source. DePerno lost the 2022 attorney general election to incumbent Attorney General Dana Nessel by nearly nine points. The guys got no ethics at all, William Buhl, a retired Van Buren County Circuit Court judge and former Republican, told Bridge. We report because the news impacts all of us. 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. Login. His wife, Laura, is a registered nurse and has experience in medical/surgical, transplant, cardiology, outpatient oncology, and trauma critical care. DePerno called Buhls accusations total nonsense and told Bridge the matter was ultimately dismissed by the grievance commission, as it should be., While Buhl said the professional code of conduct for attorneys prohibits him from revealing results of the grievance commission investigation, he called DePernos characterization of dismissal the farthest thing from the truth.. Two attorneys quit, saying they could not represent DePerno without violating the canons of ethics. So DePerno represented himself, an unorthodox move the liability insurer asked a court to stop before also agreeing to a settlement with DePerno. The convention lasted about 11 hours with delegates battling over how the votes at the event would be counted and last-minute jockeying among the 10 candidates for party chair. Gretchen Whitmer and Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson for "for all the damage they have done" in office. 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. 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. After practicing law for a decade as a law firm partner, Matt opened the doors of his own practice, DePerno Law, PLLC, in 2005, where he has since been ardently defending Americans constitutional rights. DePerno, 53, is a Portage-based attorney who primarily works on tax cases and worked primarily in Kalamazoo and Van Buren counties. After her election Saturday night, Karamo told The Detroit News her first priority as party chair is to grow the party with everyday residents and individuals in areas weve never penetrated, especially in urban America." Matthew DePerno was born in Warren and raised in Troy, Michigan. Getting Trumps endorsement was huge for DePernos campaign. Matt DePerno, an attorney general candidate endorsed by former President Donald Trump, sued the firm over his firing and denied the allegations in court. A Republican-led state Senate panel that spent months investigating the contest foundno evidence of widespread fraud. She was speaking out against "fake issues" that she said were dividing people. 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. In October 2019, Connors dismissed the case against The News "with prejudice" and ordered DePerno and Courser to pay The News $79,701 as a sanction, according to Washtenaw County court records. Trump, who's campaigning for the GOP presidential nomination in 2024, endorsed DePerno for party chair in January. Trump has thrown significant political weight behind DePerno, endorsing him, speaking on his behalf at a Mar-A-Lago fundraiser and announcing plans to stump for him and other endorsed candidates at a Michigan rally on April 2. She previously worked as an assistant prosecutor in the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office. At the end of 2020, DePerno began gaining national attention for challenging the election results in northern Michigan's Antrim County. "Some attorneys are more challenging than others," Dodge said in an email. Guy's office sent the official numbers to the Bureau of Elections at 6:35 a.m. on Nov. 7, 2020. They need to see a party actually advocating for the values we espouse. Leave us a message. During her remarks on Saturday, Karamo said she refused to concede her 615,000-vote loss to Democratic Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson because the election was a "fraudulent process." DePerno, speaking with Bridge, called the assault allegation an outrageous attempt by the Moffits to avoid paying their legal bills. New York University School of Law Master of Laws (LL.M.) But DePernos critics say GOP delegates should take a closer look at his legal career, which reveals a series of disputes with colleagues, judges and clients. Trump's choice for the post, Matthew DePerno, had all the . DePerno filed a lawsuit on behalf of Antrim County resident Bill Bailey, and he and his supporters claimed, without evidence, the problems were because of the technology itself. The Michigan Court of Appeals ultimately upheld the decision to allow Dodge to remain a judge. "From his dangerous stances on abortion and birth control, to his embrace of Donald Trumps most fringe election conspiracy theories, its clear that Michigan needs to reelect Dana Nessel as AG.". DePerno also has fiercely loyal supporters who defend his legal work, including clients, who contend hed make a strong attorney general. Among the questionable billings: DePerno allegedly charged the Moffits $1,024.35 to videotape a deposition that a federal magistrate had ordered him to personally pay as a sanction for obstructing an earlier deposition, coaching a witness and raising utterly meritless objections. Hilson, hasn't yet announced a decision. "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. Matthew DePerno, who is running for the Michigan Republican party's nomination for state attorney general, speaks at a rally hosted by former President Donald Trump on April 2, 2022 near. A lawyer by trade, DePerno rose to political prominence challenging the 2020 presidential election results and spearheading a lawsuit over the vote in northern Michigan's Antrim County. I'll continue to write good people in on my election ballots. Taxation 1994-95 University of Detroit Mercy School of Law 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. The billing allegations could be a disqualifying factor for DePerno as a candidate, said John Truscott, a Republican public relations professional who served as press secretary under former Gov. 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. "I don't have a bad word to say about him, and other than people he grew up with and has been around his whole life, I probably got to know him better than anybody since the November election," Bailey said. Hes helped a Portage high school studentrejoin the tennis teamafter she had been kicked off following an illegal search of her car that revealed remnants of marijuana, DePerno said. @mdeperno. Matthew has published 21 legal reports based on his findings from the forensic audit. ", In an Oct. 1 interview, DePerno said if he's elected, he'll work to lower Michigan's crime rate and combat sex trafficking. Democratic President Joe Biden beat Trump by 154,188 votes in Michigan. According to unofficial results, Nessel leads DePerno by 300,000 votes - about 7 points. He has a wife and three children. Instead, the Oversight Committee urged Nesselto investigate those who have been utilizing misleading and false information about Antrim County to raise money or publicity for their own ends.. Now calling himself a constitutional attorney, DePerno told Bridge his favorite cases are those that involve constitutional rights people who have arguments that they've lost their rights because of government overreach.. George Dernis, who DePerno has represented ina nearly eight-year legal battleover foreclosure of Michigan properties hed used as collateral to purchase a grocery store, said DePerno helped guide his family through hell and back., If it wasnt for Matt, wed be out on the streets, Dernis told Bridge. DePerno had represented an older couple Ronald and Cathleen Moffit whose home burned down in 2011. It just screams out: This is why people hate lawyers. We dont need this in our profession.. DePerno committed fraud, deceit and dishonesty with regards to bogus billing, duplicate billing and write offs, in addition to other wrongful acts, his former law firm Kreis, Enderle, Calendar and Hudgins PC alleged in a 2006 legal filing. Nessel's office began its investigation in February, before DePerno was her opponent. "The Washtenaw County Sheriff Department said they thought the bench warrant was so outrageous that they did not consider it enforceable," Shepard said. On Dec. 18, Karamo released a vision for the party that included converting "'GOP-phobic youth' by transitioning schools from indoctrination to education," giving "precinct delegates control over the party" and holding Republican elected officials "accountable to using the Constitution as their measure for governing.". I will continue to fight like hell to restore Michigan to all it can be and I look forward to continuing this journey with you all.". DePerno, who had worked with the Moffits on tax issues in the past, allegedly convinced the couple he could negotiate with the IRS. He also represented former state Rep. Todd Courser in a sex scandal cover-up case, which ended with Courser. Feb 10 Don't miss our Pre-Convention Rally with President Donald Trump THIS MONDAY! Another factor in his decision to run: Trump, who in July encouraged him to enter the race. In an August interview, DePerno declined to say whether the money helped fund a group of "expert witnesses" who pushed to obtain and analyze voting tabulators in Michigan. You must be logged in to post a comment In at least one instance, DePerno admitted that he falsified billing to a clients account, the law firms attorney said in a court filing. Michigans nonpartisan, nonprofit news source. "We need somebody who will go in there and stand up for the little guy," Carra said. An incumbent attorney general hasn't lost reelection in Michigan since 1954. Greenlee advanced to the second round of voting ahead of other contenders Tuscola County GOP Chairman Billy Putman, J.D. Nessel's race was seen as one of the closer statewide campaigns during the tight midterm race. Longtime GOP mega-donor Ron Weiser, a wealthy Ann Arbor businessman, opted against seeking another term as party chairman. DePerno is considered a frontrunner for the Michigan Republican Partys nomination for attorney general, along with former state House Speaker Tom Leonard, the GOP nominee in 2018. However, Shepard said DePerno wants to fix "the outdated and confusing" law, which dates to the 1840s. "Mr. DePerno has received calls from the sheriff's deputy that's going to come and try to execute writs of execution, I guess, on his office furniture and supplies," Baker said during a Jan. 16, 2020, court hearing. DePerno had represented an older couple Ronald and Cathleen Moffit whose home burned down in 2011. And DePerno later sued their attorney unsuccessfully for defamation. On Nov. 8, voters will decide whether to put him in the attorney general's office. Matthew S. DePerno, Esq. He argued Michigan needed "the guidance of a fighter. Experts say there is no credible evidence of fraud in Antrim County, and a hand recount of paper ballots later confirmed the official results showing Trump won the area with 61 percent of the vote, just shy of his 62 percent showing in 2016. DePerno is willing to take on "the status quo of corruption," Carra said. Thousands of Michigan Republican Party delegates participate in the convention as they considered who should be their new leader after suffering historic losses in the November 2022 election. 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. It just screams out: This is why people hate lawyers. We dont need this in our profession.. But his supporters see him as a tenacious champion who's willing to take up causes others have declined. He picked the fight and then billed them $130,000. And when DePerno asked her to enter the room to notarize mortgage documents, the secretary said it was clear Cathy Moffit had been crying and did not want to sign the papers. 1:04. In 2016, Buhlfiled a requestasking the Michigan Attorney Grievance Commission to investigate DePerno after he was accused of legal malpractice. Asked if he has concerns about how DePerno would handle a future election that's challenged, Greene said yes, but he added there will be "checks and balances," including from the Legislature. Nessel joked about a "drag queen for every school" during an event in June. Conservative lawyer David Kallman, whose office is based in Lansing, said DePerno has done things he doesn't agree with. DePerno, who'd filed a lawsuit on behalf of a local resident claiming voting-machine fraud in Antrim County, more than 200 miles to the north, sent the clerk a subpoena demanding access to her. In an interview Tuesday, DePerno told Bridge he and colleagues had a dispute on where the firm was going but resolved the case with mutual satisfaction. He declined to discuss specific allegations, citing the secrecy agreement. Some attorneys are more challenging than others, Dodge said in an email. 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. UP First. Matt and Laura have three wonderful children who are all current or former students at Michigan State University (MSU). In Ingham County, a judge overseeing Todd Coursers criminal case announced he might retire before his term ended because the headache of dealing with DePerno and the other attorneys started to eat away at him. One of DePerno's Republican convention opponents in the spring, Leonard, called on DePerno to detail what happened with the money in March. Will you please support our nonprofit newsroom? Samantha DePerno, 19, began her sophomore year at MSU this past Fall, 2021. From beginning to end, the problem is you.. "The sanction award far exceeds the petitioners' ability to pay," Baker wrote in a filing on Jan. 9, 2020. 2023 The Detroit News, a Digital First Media Newspaper, who resigned from the state House after he attempted to cover up an extramarital affair with a fellow lawmaker, told the Lansing publication Gongwer News Service that he had spoken with a sheriff. Marsha Johnson Chartrand, a founder, writer, and copy editor with the Manchester Mirror, is a 50-year resident of Manchester. But Democrats have slammed his continued unproven claims about fraud in the 2020 election. After practicing law as a partner at a large law firm for 10 years, Matthew opened his own law practice in 2005, DePerno Law, PLLC. "Petitioners have also have been in direct contact with the Washtenaw County Sheriff's Department to resolve the bench warrants.". Asked about his candidate's changing financial status, Shepard said DePerno's law firm attracted a lot of new business during the period after early 2020 partly because of restrictions Gov. 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.".