John “Jack” Cunningham brought allegations of legal malpractice
charges and attorney ethics violations against the law firm Maynard and Truland, which had represented him during a court
action two years previously. Jack's allegations included gross negligence, dubious billing practices, and misstatements to
the Court. Evidence that Jack submitted included the law firm’s invoices, contract, attorney certifications, letters,
documents, and sworn statements.
Robert Correale, an attorney with Maynard and Truland, represented his law
firm in Jack’s legal malpractice grievance in Superior Court. At the time, Jack learned that Correale was serving on
the extremely influential, New Jersey Supreme Court’s local, attorney ethics committee of District X. Correale was listed
on Maynard & Truland’s own website that he was the vice-chairman of this Supreme Court committee. The current director
of this powerful state agency admits Correale was a member of District X, but denies Correale was vice-chairman.
Against the objections of Correale, Sussex County Superior Court Judge Ronald
Graves determined that the evidence presented by Jack warranted the civil case be brought to the Superior Court Law Division
for pursuit of damages. When Jack brought the case there, the Superior Court’s transcript containing Judge Graves determination
was unexplainably missing. Jack’s civil case was later dismissed for lack of merit. Recently, State Senator Steven Oroho's
staff conducted an investigation, but the Superior Court of New Jersey, which lost the transcript, could not provide an explanation
as to how a court transcript from within its own courthouse had disappeared as if in a puff of smoke.
When Jack brought attorney ethics allegations to the director of the Supreme
Court’s Office of Attorney Ethics, his senior staff insisted that Correale’s own committee carry out the investigation
against him and his law firm.
After months of Jack's persistent inquiries, the Office's senior staff finally
admitted to the conflict of interest and an investigation was launched by a different Supreme Court District committee. Correale
and a second attorney from the firm were required to present sworn certifications. A third attorney was allowed a pass. The
senior law partner of Maynard and Truland wrote a cover letter to accompany these documents. Jack’s review found misleading
and vague statements throughout the documents and its cover letter.
Within two weeks of Jack’s questioning the sworn certifications as
being fraudulent, Correale resigned his Supreme Court position, fifteen months before his term was set to expire. However,
seven months after resigning, Correale and his firm, Maynard and Truland, were cleared of all ethics allegations by the Office
of Attorney Ethics. The perjury-filled sworn certifications have never been addressed despite Jack having written to three
consecutive Governors, Attorney Generals, and multiple Supreme Court and Superior Court judges requesting an investigation.
All attempts by Jack to bring state and federal criminal charges against
Robert Correale, the firm Maynard & Truland and those in state government who are shielding them, have failed. Now the
State of New Jersey states that the statute of limitations is in play, but Jack Cunningham will not give up.
