Disbarred Michigan Attorney Ordered to Pay $660,000 for Mismanaged Child Settlement

Gregory Rohl, a Metro Detroit attorney, was disbarred effective Oct. 1 after the State of Michigan Attorney Discipline Board determined he mishandled funds from a wrongful death settlement. The disciplinary order requires him to pay nearly $660,000 in restitution to the family involved in the case.

The case originated in 2017 when Lilliana Kerr, then three years old, was killed by a falling cafeteria table at St. Albert the Great School in Dearborn Heights. She was attending a Head Start program at the time. Her family filed a lawsuit against the school, the Archdiocese of Detroit, and Wayne Metro Head Start, which concluded with a $2.5 million settlement.

The board's findings indicate that Rohl improperly used settlement funds and failed to release money designated for Lilliana's surviving siblings despite court orders. The attorney also made false statements regarding the disposition of those funds. Tabatha Kerr, Lilliana's mother, stated that the siblings were supposed to receive their shares but never did. She noted that years passed without the funds appearing in the accounts established for the children.

Kerr reported repeatedly contacting courts and lawyers regarding the missing money but receiving evasive responses. "I kept on calling and calling and calling both to the courts and the lawyers and I kept getting the runaround," she said. She described the experience as isolating, stating, "I just felt like no one cared. I felt alone. I felt stupid."

Records show Rohl had prior disciplinary history, including a suspension in 2016 and a reprimand in 2024. Kerr questioned how he maintained his license for so long, asking, "I don't understand why he was an attorney in the first place." She said she had advocated for his removal from the profession for several years.

Kerr continues to support proposed legislation known as Lilliana's Law, which aims to strengthen school safety standards and increase accountability. She said the prolonged legal battle has taken a personal toll. "It all kind of messes with my head sometimes," she said.

The outlet contacted Rohl for comment on the disbarment and the allegations in the disciplinary order. He had not responded by the time of publication.