Gregory Rohl Disbarred, Ordered to Repay $660,000 for Misuse of Child's Settlement
The Michigan Attorney Discipline Board found the former Detroit attorney failed to distribute funds for a deceased child’s siblings and made false statements about the money.
By Harper Foster ·
A disciplinary order effective Oct. 1 requires Gregory Rohl to pay nearly $660,000 in restitution. The Michigan Attorney Discipline Board disbarred the Metro Detroit attorney for his handling of settlement funds from a wrongful death case. The board found that Rohl improperly used the money and failed to release specific portions designated for children, despite existing court orders.
The underlying case involves the 2017 death of Lilliana Kerr, a 3-year-old student at a Head Start program at St. Albert the Great School in Dearborn Heights. The child died after a cafeteria table fell on her. Her family sued the school, the Archdiocese of Detroit, and Wayne Metro Head Start. The litigation concluded with a $2.5 million settlement.
Tabatha Kerr, Lilliana’s mother, stated that part of the settlement was earmarked for her surviving children. She said the money never reached the accounts established for them. "They were supposed to get theirs and they never did," Kerr said. She described a multi-year period where the funds remained unaccounted for while she contacted courts and legal representatives.
Kerr said she felt isolated during the dispute. "I kept on calling and calling and calling both to the courts and the lawyers and I kept getting the runaround," she said. She added, "I just felt like no one cared. I felt alone. I felt stupid." The board’s findings noted that Rohl made false statements regarding the disposition of the funds after the initial failures to distribute them.
Rohl has a prior record of disciplinary action. State records show he was suspended in 2016 and reprimanded in 2024. Kerr questioned his continued presence in the profession given this history. "I don't understand why he was an attorney in the first place," she said. She said she had pushed for his removal from the bar for years. "I've been fighting for a very long time to get him disbarred," she said.
Kerr is currently advocating for Lilliana’s Law, a proposed bill aimed at increasing school safety standards and accountability. She said the legal battle has had a lasting impact on her mental state. "It all kind of messes with my head sometimes," she said. Rohl did not respond to requests for comment regarding the disbarment or the allegations in the disciplinary order.
The board's decision removes Rohl's license to practice law in Michigan. The restitution amount covers the funds he failed to distribute to the children. The order was finalized after the board reviewed the financial records and testimonies related to the $2.5 million settlement.
