The firm reacted ‘swiftly’ once made aware of the allegations.
The post Biglaw Partner Removed From Firm After Wife’s Remains Found In Stairwell appeared first on Above the Law.
On October 27th, the wife of now-former Duane Morris partner Adam P. Beckerink, Caitlin Tracey, was found dead in the stairwell of Beckerink’s apartment building in Chicago’s South Loop. Tracey’s severed foot was found nearby. Tracey’s parents, Andrew and Monica Tracey, received a temporary restraining order successfully blocking Beckerink from retrieving her body after alleging Caitlin Tracey was the victim of domestic abuse at the hands of Beckerink.
As reported by CWB Chicago, Tracey received an order of protection against her husband in October of 2023.
In an affidavit seeking the order, Tracey claimed Beckerink “contacts me approximately twenty times a day” and calls her “derogatory names like ‘liar,’ cheater,’ ‘whore,’ and a ‘piece of sh*t.’”
She also claimed that she filed a police report for domestic battery in September 2023 after, she said, Beckerink came into a hotel room at the Ritz Carlton while she was sleeping and launched into verbal and physical abuse.
Tracey said she filed a second police report because, she claimed, Beckerink became physically and verbally abusive at the South Loop residential building in August 2023, “slamming my head against a cabinet, slapping me, punching me, putting my head on a headlock, and dragging me away from the door.”
After the August 2023 incident, Tracey said, “The police officers attempted to arrest the [man], but he refused to open the door.”
Tracey also alleged an incident in July of 2023 in which she said Beckerink hit her with a pickle jar and “poured vodka on my body, which burned my wounds.” Tracey said Beckerink took her to the hospital following those head injuries.
Tracey moved to vacate the order of protection a month after it was granted.
Beckerink is not facing charges related to Tracey’s death. There are two pending domestic violence charges and felony charges of resisting and obstructing arrest in Michigan, where Tracey lived.
Beckerink’s attorney, Todd Pugh, said, “Caitlin was the love of Adam’s life, they’ve been married since April, her family has not had any contact with her in the several months since she married Adam. He wanted to include them in honoring her memory and wanted to do this at the funeral home that her family selected, but based on the filing that we just received, that wasn’t sufficient.”
But after these details emerged, Duane Morris decided it was enough to kick Beckerink out of the partnership.
Duane Morris provided the following statement on the matter, “This is a shocking and tragic case, and we send our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Caitlin Tracey. Our firm was not aware of the domestic violence and other allegations against Adam Beckerink asserted in various legal proceedings until recent media accounts of her death. Once we confirmed key facts, the partners board swiftly removed Adam as a partner of Duane Morris LLP. He is no longer associated with our firm.
“This is a tragedy for all involved. Our deepest condolences go to Caitlin Tracey’s family. Counseling will be available for Chicago office employees this week.
“Out of respect for the legal process, it is not appropriate for the firm to speculate about the ongoing investigation, other than to say we hope justice will be served, and we stand ready to assist if we can be helpful to investigators.”
If you’re a victim of familial or domestic violence, reach out if you need help, before it’s too late. If you feel that you are in immediate danger, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). Assistance is available in English and Spanish.
Kathryn Rubino is a Senior Editor at Above the Law, host of The Jabot podcast, and co-host of Thinking Like A Lawyer. AtL tipsters are the best, so please connect with her. Feel free to email her with any tips, questions, or comments and follow her on Twitter @Kathryn1 or Mastodon @[email protected].
