Lawyer to Return $660,000 From Settlement

Gregory Rohl must repay nearly $660,000 to victims of his misconduct, according to a disciplinary order issued by the State of Michigan Attorney Discipline Board. The attorney, who practiced in Metro Detroit, was disbarred effective October 1. The board’s findings detail how he mishandled funds from a wrongful death settlement.

The legal action stems from a 2017 incident in Dearborn Heights. Lilliana Kerr, a three-year-old, died after a cafeteria table collapsed on her at St. Albert the Great School. She was attending a Head Start program at the time. Her family sued the school, the Archdiocese of Detroit, and Wayne Metro Head Start. The case settled for $2.5 million.

The disciplinary order states that Rohl improperly used settlement money. He failed to release funds designated for Lilliana’s surviving siblings despite court orders. He later made false statements about the disposition of those funds. Tabatha Kerr, Lilliana’s mother, said the siblings never received their share. "They were supposed to get theirs and they never did," she said.

Kerr described a years-long effort to recover the money. She said she contacted courts and attorneys repeatedly but received evasive answers. "I kept on calling and calling and calling both to the courts and the lawyers and I kept getting the runaround," she said. The delay left her feeling isolated and confused about the legal process.

Rohl had a prior history of disciplinary issues. Records show he was suspended in 2016 and reprimanded in 2024. Kerr expressed surprise that he maintained his license for so long. "I don't understand why he was an attorney in the first place," she said. The disbarment removes him from the profession permanently.

The mother continues to push for legislative changes known as Lilliana's Law. The proposed bill aims to improve safety standards and accountability in schools. She said the legal battle has had a lasting psychological impact on her. "It all kind of messes with my head sometimes," she said. Rohl did not respond to requests for comment before the deadline for this report.