Thomas M. Murtha, 61, of Boggs Hill Road, who had served as the town Pension Committee's chairman for more than 20 years, has resigned from that panel, which oversees town employees' pension fund management.

In a brief letter received by the town clerk on August 23, Mr Murtha, a Democrat, simply stated he was resigning from the seven-member appointed panel.

Attempts to reach Mr Murtha for comment were unsuccessful.

In a Bridgeport Superior Court document dated September 8, Mr Murtha, who had worked as an attorney since May 1981, submitted his written resignation as a member of the Connecticut bar and he also waived the privilege of applying for readmission to the bar in the future.

Mr Murtha had been a partner in the legal practice known as Maher & Murtha LLC in Bridgeport.

Following a review of a report prepared by the Statewide Grievance Committee, a judge ruled that Mr Murtha had "committed professional misconduct" involving misappropriation of clients' funds. The grievance committee hears formal complaints lodged against lawyers.

According to that committee report, Mr Murtha has three grievance complaints pending against him and eight pending check overdraft investigations.

In a complaint filed by Paulette Jurewicz, the complainant alleges that Mr Murtha failed to provide her with the proceeds from a real estate closing, provided her with a bad check, and failed to provide her with sale proceeds exceeding $40,000. That grievance is pending.

Also, a separate grievance filed by Joseph Jurewicz alleges the same facts. That grievance is pending.

In another grievance, Jevene Wright alleges that Mr Murtha failed to provide $100,000 in sale proceeds. That grievance is pending.

According to court documents, as of September 8, the Statewide Bar Counsel's office was investigating nine check overdrafts caused by Mr Murtha in his clients' fund accounts.

"All the disciplinary matters currently pending before the Statewide Grievance Committee would be administratively disposed of, if the court accepts [Mr Murtha's] resignation from the bar and his waiver of the right to apply for reinstatement," according to the grievance committee.

Following Mr Murtha's resignation as a lawyer, Judge Barbara Bellis appointed attorney John Mager as a trustee. Mr Mager will inventory the files of Mr Murtha, secure the clients' fund accounts, review legal office mail, take actions that are necessary to protect the interests of clients, and provide accounting and reports to the court.