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NEW FILINGS,
HEARING SCHEDULES AND CLERK'S OFFICE Recent Disciplinary Decisions from Supreme Court | Recently Filed Complaints and Reports | Announcements | Schedule of Hearings | Clerk’s Office Services ANNOUNCEMENT OF DISCIPLINARY DECISIONS Monday October 4, 2004 10:00 A.M. LAWYER DISCIPLINARY ORDERS The Supreme Court of Illinois on Friday September 24, 2004, and Monday, September 27, 2004, announced the filing of disciplinary orders involving a number of licensed lawyers. Sanctions were imposed because the lawyers engaged in professional misconduct by violating state ethics law. Discipline ranged from reprimand to disbarment. The name of each disciplined lawyer, the address at which the lawyer last practiced, and a brief summary of the misconduct that led to the sanction, is attached. The announcement of the orders may be reviewed at the Supreme Court of Illinois website: www.state.il.us/court. The Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission (ARDC), an Illinois Supreme Court agency, investigates alleged wrongdoing by Illinois attorneys, holds hearings on specific charges, and recommends discipline where warranted. The Supreme Court is, however, the only authority that can discipline lawyers for misconduct. The Supreme Court generally announces lawyer sanction orders during each formal term of Court. The Court convenes in term every January, March, May, September and November. There are approximately 80,000 attorneys in Illinois. A yearly fee of $229 is imposed on Illinois lawyers and helps to fund the ARDC. There are no tax dollars used to support the disciplinary system. The ARDC is composed of seven members, three of whom are non-lawyers. Attorney Benedict Schwarz II is the Commission Chairman. The ARDC Administrator is Mary Robinson. For additional information concerning these disciplinary orders contact: James J. Grogan, Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission, Chicago. 312-565-2600 or 1-800-826-8625 In re THEODORE S. ASHBELL , Attorney Number 3123972990 North Lake Shore Drive, Unit 25C Chicago, Illinois 60611-1380 File Information: M.R. 19569, 03 CH 45 Mr. Ashbell, who was licensed in 1979, was suspended for thirty days. D uring the course of representing a plaintiff in a medical malpractice action, Mr. Ashbell, who is also a physician, met separately with two of his client’s former physicians, representing to them that he was meeting with them as a fellow doctor. The physicians were unrepresented by counsel and revealed confidential information that Mr. Ashbell later attempted to use to further his client’s case.In re MARGARET ROSE BEST, Attorney Number 6205500Post Office Box 2072 Southaven, Mississippi 38671-0024 File Information: M.R. 19505, 01 CH 55 Ms. Best, who was licensed in 1991, was disbarred. She misappropriated $128,682 from two schools for the deaf and converted $56,656 in settlement funds owed to a special education client. In re JOHN FRANCIS BRENNAN,
Attorney Number 6187302 Chicago, Illinois 60603-1025 File information: M.R. 19433, 03 CH 127 Mr. Brennan, who was licensed in 1984, was censured. He agreed to represent a client in a claim for fraud and deceptive practices arising out of a real estate transaction. He neglected the matter and misled the client about the status of the claim for several years. In re KELVIN CONNELL BULGER,
Attorney Number 6197634 Chicago, Illinois 60615-4530 File Information: M.R. 19550, 02 CH 40 Mr. Bulger, who was licensed in 1988, was suspended for five months. He incompetently represented his clients in an attempted appeal of a non-final order, falsely verified and notarized an answer to a complaint on behalf of those clients, and then falsely testified in court about the verification. In re DALE ALAN CARLSON, Attorney
Number 6193542 Harvard, Illinois 60033-3300 File information: M.R. 19463, 04 DC 1001 Mr. Carlson, who was licensed in 1986, was disbarred on consent. He prepared a fraudulent court order in a probate estate reciting that the administrator of the estate was to disburse funds to Mr. Carlson to be held in trust, and affixed a judge’s signature to the order without the judge’s consent. He then used the order to deceive the estate administrator into giving him approximately $32,000, which he used for his own purposes. In re THOMAS GERARD COSGROVE,
Attorney Number 6206242 Chicago Illinois 60661-5680 File Information: M.R. 19629, 01 CH 76 Mr. Cosgrove, who was licensed in 1991, was censured. While serving as an Assistant State’s Attorney, he assisted a judge in improperly dismissing an overweight truck citation in order to accommodate a friend of the judge. In re PATRICK JOSEPH CROTTY,
Attorney Number 3121641 Hinsdale, Illinois 60522-5084 File Information: M.R. 19553, 03 CH 76 Mr. Crotty, who was licensed in 1978, was suspended for one year and until further order of Court, with all but five months of the suspension stayed by probation for one year with conditions. He made a series of loans totaling $13,100 from funds in an irrevocable insurance trust, which he had drafted and for which he was the trustee. He made the loans to a former client without disclosure to the person who created the trust or to the beneficiaries of the trust and without their consent. Thereafter, he failed to complete timely an accounting for the trust. In re NOEL DENNIS, Attorney Number
616702 Des Plaines, Illinois 60016-2355 File Number: M.R. 19641, 02 CH 106 Mr. Dennis, who was licensed in 1977, was suspended for two years, with the suspension stayed after one year by probation with certain conditions. While representing various clients in personal injury and medical benefits matters, he mishandled at least $50,955.45 of funds held on behalf of clients or intended for third parties. In re BURGESS FRANCIS ERVIN,
Attorney Number 6185349 Chicago, Illinois 60601-7511 File Number: M.R. 19573, 03 CH 77 Mr. Ervin, who was licensed in 1983, was suspended for two years and until he makes certain restitution, with the suspension stayed after one year by probation subject to conditions. He neglected multiple tax scavenger sale matters for three different clients, converted at least $5,000 in costs from two different clients, and failed to refund unearned fees. In re THOMAS DONALD FAZIOLI,
Attorney Number 779571 Addison, Illinois 60101-2126 File information: M.R. 19580, 01 CH 19 Mr. Fazioli, who was licensed in 1973, was suspended for three years. In violation of election law, he attempted to disguise a $10,000 contribution to a judicial campaign fund by way of checks written by two colleagues, with the hope that the contribution would further his goal of becoming an associate judge. In re THOMAS
J. FINNEGAN, Jr., Attorney Number 6204210 File information: M.R. 19499, 03 CH 68 Mr. Finnegan, who was licensed in 1990, was suspended for six months and until further order of the Court. He neglected two personal injury cases, failed to communicate with his clients, and did not participate in the disciplinary proceeding. In re GERALD LEE FISHMAN, Attorney
Number 820261 Chicago, Illinois 60606-6987 File Information No: M.R.19462, 01 CH 109 Mr. Fishman, who was licensed in 1966, was suspended for one year. He sexually harassed and physically assaulted a young female associate at his law firm. In re ROBERT GEORGE FREDERICK, Attorney Number 867594 129 West Main Urbana, Illinois 61801-2714 File information: M.R. 19520, 03 SH 117 Mr. Frederick, who was licensed in 1972, was suspended for ninety days for engaging in a sexual relationship with a client while representing the client in a family law matter. In re HARRY P. FRIEDLANDER,
Attorney Number 880124 Phoenix, Arizona 85012-2334 File information: M.R. 19633, 04 RC 1509 Mr. Friedlander was licensed in Illinois in 1974 and in Arizona in 1978. The Supreme Court of Arizona censured him for mismanaging client settlement funds and failing to maintain adequate trust account records. The Illinois Supreme Court censured him as reciprocal discipline. In re CHERYL ANN HANDY, Attorney
Number 6216198 Savoy, Illinois 61874-0746 File information: M.R. 19524, 01 SH 124 Ms. Handy, who was licensed in 1993, was suspended for one year and until further order of the Court. She neglected numerous immigration matters, provided incompetent representation, failed to return unearned fees and converted client funds. In re JEFFREY SCOTT HARRIS,
Attorney Number 6197483 Maywood, Illinois 60153-2419 File Number: M.R. 19632, 03 CH 82 Mr. Harris, who was licensed in 1988, was censured and required to complete the Professionalism Seminar conducted by the Illinois Professional Responsibility Institute within one year of the date of the Court’s order. He neglected two client matters and failed to communicate adequately with his clients about the status of their matters. In re SCOTT LOWELL LADEWIG,
Attorney Number 6204905 Crestwood, Illinois 60445-1074 File information: M.R. 19512, 00 CH 33 Mr. Ladewig, who was licensed in 1990, was suspended for three years, with the suspension stayed after five months by probation with conditions. He misappropriated $94,000 in funds from an estate and made false statements on an accounting he provided to the executor of the estate. He also neglected two personal injury matters and misrepresented the status of the cases to his clients. He led the clients to believe that he had settled their matters and gave them money that he took from the estate. In re JOHN EDWARD LAPINE, Attorney Number 6207252 Chicago, Illinois 60602-3178 File information: M.R. 19627, 03 CH 43 Mr. LaPine, who was licensed in 1991, was suspended for two years and until further order of the Court. He neglected two separate matters, failed to communicate with his clients, did not refund unearned fees, and essentially abandoned his law practice. He was previously sanctioned for similar misconduct. In re ALAN SHELDON LEVIN, Attorney
Number 1629999 Chicago, Illinois 60603-1502 File Information: M.R. 19490, 00 CH 72 Mr. Levin, who was licensed to practice in 1966, was suspended for thirty days. He assisted a client in transferring five rental properties into trust for the benefit of the client’s wife while a citation to discover assets was pending in a case in which the client’s former tenants had obtained a $1.75 million judgment against him. The tenants' children had been poisoned by lead paint in the building in which they lived and which was owned by the client. In re IRVING JAY LEVIN, Attorney
Number 1632620 Los Angeles, California 90049-0166 File Information: M.R. 19652, 04 DC 1004 Mr. Levin, who was licensed in 1968, was disbarred on consent. He pleaded guilty in federal court in Nevada to participating in a conspiracy to obtain pharmaceuticals at discounted prices. In furtherance of the scheme, he caused false representations to be made to drug manufacturers and diverted fraudulently obtained drugs to co-conspirators for a profit. He was sentenced to a six-month period of home confinement and a three-year period of probation, and was assessed a fine of $250,000. In re MICHAEL WILLIAM LOKER,
Attorney Number 3128467 San Diego, California 92101-8169 File information: M.R. 19618, 03 CH 91 Mr. Loker, who was licensed in 1980, was disbarred. He neglected numerous client matters and failed to participate in the disciplinary proceedings. In re PAMELA D. LUCAS, Attorney
Number 6220599 Chicago, Illinois 60643-4734 File information: M.R. 19511, 03 CH 79 Ms. Lucas, who was licensed in 1994, was suspended for three years and until further order of the Court. She settled a client's personal injury claim without the client's consent and then misappropriated $7,500. She was suspended in 2003 for unrelated misconduct. In re STEVEN DAVID LUSTIG, Attorney Number 1710737161 North Clark Street, Suite 2230 Chicago, Illinois 60601-3329 File information: M.R. 19460, 98 CH 51 Mr. Lustig, who was licensed in 1971, was disbarred on consent. He misappropriated more than $152,000 from two clients, provided fabricated bank statements to the disciplinary commission that concealed his misuse of those funds, and delayed in returning client file materials to his clients after being discharged. In re MICHAEL DONALD MALICKI , Attorney Number 6185792241 South Frontage Road, Suite 42 Burr Ridge, Illinois 60527-6170 File information: M.R. 19488, 03 CH 95 Mr. Malicki, who was licensed in 1983, was suspended for two years and until further order of the Court. He neglected numerous client matters, abandoned his law practice without giving notice to his clients, and failed to participate in the disciplinary proceedings. In re JAMES ALAN MALKUS, Attorney
Number 6234462 San Diego, California 92192-7346 File information: M.R. 19609, 04 DC 1003 Mr. Malkus, who was licensed in 1961, was disbarred on consent. He was convicted of federal mail fraud for taking bribes and making false statements while serving as a California Superior Court Judge in the 1990s. He was sentenced to a thirty-month prison term. In re MICHAEL EDWARD MARSH,
Attorney Number 3126250 Naperville, Illinois 60563-2346 File information: M.R.19556, 02 CH 15 Mr. Marsh, who was licensed in 1980, was suspended for two years and until further order of the Court. He failed to refund unearned fees to eleven clients despite their repeated requests for refunds, made two false billing entries in one client’s bill, and failed to cooperate with the disciplinary investigation. He was suspended on an interim basis on May 4, 2004. In re BARRY ALAN MATTES, Attorney Number 61803293320 North Central Avenue Chicago, Illinois 60634-4324 File information: M.R. 19571, 04 DC 1002 Mr. Mattes, who was licensed in 1981, was disbarred on consent. He stole checks and credit card information from the mailboxes of eight residents of his Chicago condominium building and used the stolen information to fraudulently purchase goods valued at $9,892.62 from mail-order retailers. In re DANIEL J. McNAMARA, Attorney
Number 6196016 Chicago, Illinois 60643-3954 File information: M.R. 19628, 04 CH 25 Mr. McNamara, who was licensed in 1987, was suspended for three years and until further order of the Court with all but the first ninety days stayed by a two-year period of probation. He neglected nine property tax appeal matters and made misrepresentations to several of his clients about the status of their tax appeals. In re MARK
HATLEN MENNES, Attorney Number 1886746 File Information: M.R. 19442, 03 CH 25 Mr. Mennes, who was licensed in 1974, was suspended for two years and until further order of the Court, with all but the first year of suspension stayed by probation subject to the conditions. He neglected a workers’ compensation matter, initially failed to cooperate with the disciplinary investigation, and engaged in an improper loan transaction between elderly clients and Mr. Mennes’ adult son. In re MICHAEL JAMES MEYER, Attorney
Number 1895923 Effingham, Illinois 62401 File information: M.R. 19491, 01 SH 81 Mr. Meyer, who was licensed in 1975, was censured. He accepted a settlement check from the guaranty fund of an insolvent insurer on behalf of a client without any intention of having his client execute a release of all claims. He also made a false statement concerning his failure to return an executed release. After cashing the settlement check, he proceeded to file suit against the same insureds, seeking further compensation for his client. In re PATRICK JOSEPH MITCHELL,
Attorney Number 6201639 Chicago, Illinois 60602-3908 File Information M. R. 19440, 03 CH 88 Mr. Mitchell, who was licensed in 1989, was suspended for sixty days. He mismanaged $2,200 of a client’s personal injury settlement that he was holding to pay medical providers. In re LONA L. MONSON, Attorney
Number 6195281 Chicago, Illinois 60607-1237 File Information: M.R. 19590, 04 RC 1508 Ms. Monson was licensed in Illinois in 1987 and in Oregon in 1989. The Supreme Court of Oregon suspended her for one year for aiding non-lawyers in the sale of living trust documents to senior citizens. Illinois imposed reciprocal discipline and suspended her for one year and until she is reinstated in Oregon. In re LOUIS ERNEST NEUENDORF,
Attorney Number 2039311 Sandwich, Illinois 60548-1114 File information: M.R. 19441, 02 CH 31 Mr. Neuendorf, who was licensed in 1950, was disbarred for continuing to practice law during a ninety-day suspension. In re WARREN
JOSEPH NICKEL, Attorney Number 6186573 File Information: M.R. 19583, 02 CH 55 Mr. Nickel, who was licensed in 1984, was disbarred. He misappropriated over $93,000 belonging to a 92-year old sole surviving legatee of his client’s estate. He also filed false documents and made misrepresentations to a tribunal. In re GERALD DAVID WILLIAM NORTH,
Attorney Number 2064448 Scottsdale, Arizona 85262-5195 File information: M.R. 18078, 02 RC 1503 Mr. North was licensed in Illinois in 1977 and in Arizona in 1985. He was suspended for six months and one day in Arizona for agreeing to an aggregate settlement without the consent of all of his clients and for unilaterally determining the amount of each client’s settlement award without the clients’ consent. He also failed to distribute promptly an award in another client matter, and he failed to communicate with a client. The Illinois Supreme Court suspended him for three months and until he files proof of compliance with the conditions of his Arizona discipline. In re JENNIFER A. O'NEILL, Attorney
Number 6270379 Palos Heights, Illinois 60463-3056 File information: M.R. 19560, 04 CH 9 Ms O'Neill, who was licensed in 1999, was suspended for thirty days. She neglected a civil case, provided her employer with false information about that case’s status, and then fabricated a purported court order in order to conceal from her employer her inattention to the case. In re JAMES
E. PANCRATZ, Attorney Number 6184454 File Number: M.R. 19582, 01 CH 21 Mr. Pancratz, who was licensed in 1983, was suspended for three months. He participated in a scheme to enable another attorney to violate election law by disguising a $5,000 contribution to a judicial campaign fund In re ARTHUR CHRISTOPHER ROBINSON,
Attorney Number 2355450 La Grange Park, Illinois 60526 File Information: M.R. 19608, 03 CH 62 Mr. Robinson, who was licensed in 1974, was suspended for one year. He engaged in a conflict of interest in an estate matter, failed to protect the assets of the estate, did not disclose to the probate court the withdrawal of certain estate funds, and was not candid to a tribunal and to third parties. In re KARREAN MARIE ROLLING-HOLMES,
Attorney Number 6230139 South Holland, Illinois 60473-0433 File Information: M.R. 19549, 03 CH 92 Ms. Rolling-Holmes, who was licensed in 1995, was suspended for three years and until further order of the Court. She continued to practice law after her 2003 suspension for professional misconduct. In re KAREN J. ROOSE, Attorney
Number 6239049 Lake City, Colorado 81235-0963 File Information: M.R. 19542, 04 RC 1506 Ms. Roose was licensed in Illinois in 1997 and in Colorado in 1999. She was suspended for one year and one day in Colorado for walking out of a trial in violation of a court order that required her to stay and for making false statements in a notice of appeal. Illinois imposed reciprocal discipline and suspended her for one year and until she is reinstated to practice in Colorado. In re RICHARD PATRICK RYAN,
Attorney Number 3128172 Grayslake, Illinois 60030-7817 File information: M.R. 19532, 01 CH 16 Mr. Ryan, who was licensed in 1980, was suspended for one year. He entered a courthouse facility while possessing cocaine and cannabis. In re ROBERTA LEE SAMOTNY, Attorney
Number 6185987 Chicago, Illinois 60604-3779 File Information: M.R. 19451, 03 CH 20 Ms. Samotny, who was licensed in 1983, was disbarred. She neglected five criminal matters, failed to refund unearned fees to clients, made misrepresentations in order to obtain health insurance and failed to cooperate in the disciplinary proceeding. She was suspended in 1997 for neglect of a criminal appeal. In re DAVID ALAN SCHECHTER,
Attorney Number 6200033 Louisville, Kentucky 40222-3451 File information: M.R. 19435, 04 RC 1503 Mr. Schechter was licensed in Illinois in 1964 and in Kentucky in 1972. He was suspended for two years in Kentucky for violating federal wiretap statutes after he had a listening device placed on his partner’s telephone in their law office. Illinois imposed reciprocal discipline and suspended him for two years and until he is reinstated in Kentucky. In re CHESTER SLAUGHTER, Attorney
Number 2631334 Chicago, Illinois 60619-1910 File Information: M.R. 19480, 03 CH 86 Mr. Slaughter, who was licensed in 1971, was suspended for five months. He received credit through five separate credit and loan applications by providing false or misleading personal information to the lenders. In re VANESSA SMITH, Attorney
Number 6244200 Chicago, Illinois 60653-0460 File information: M.R. 19547, 00 CH 35 Ms. Smith, who was licensed in 1997, was disbarred. She made false statements in her application for admission to the Illinois Bar, committed a criminal act by failing to maintain records of firearms transfers, and engaged in illegal conduct by possessing unregisterable guns in the City of Chicago in violation of the Municipal Code of the City of Chicago. She also obtained and possessed confidential documents belonging to a former employer, Merrill Lynch. In re BRENDA JOYCE STIDHAM,
Attorney Number 3122161 Dallas, Texas 75232-1061 File information: M.R. 19436, 04 RC 1505 Ms. Stidham was licensed in Illinois in 1978 and was also licensed in Texas. She was disbarred in Texas for neglecting a client matter, practicing law while suspended, and failing to participate in her Texas disciplinary proceedings. Illinois imposed reciprocal discipline and suspended her for six months and until she is reinstated in Texas. In re HENRY THOMPSON TUCKER, Jr.,
Attorney Number 2863553 Richmond, Virginia 23219-2429 File information: M.R. 19434, 04 RC 1504 Mr. Tucker was licensed in Virginia in 1975 and in Illinois in 1976. He was disbarred in Virginia after being convicted of money laundering and wire fraud. Illinois imposed reciprocal discipline and disbarred him. In re MARK VAN PERNIS, Attorney
Number 2176807 Kailua Kona, Hawaii 96745-1837 File Information: M.R.19545, 04 RC 1507 Mr. Van Pernis was licensed in Illinois in 1974 and in Hawaii in 1976. Hawaii suspended him for three months for harassing a court-appointed foreclosure commissioner. Illinois imposed a three-month suspension as reciprocal discipline. In re HERBERT VICTOR, Attorney
Number 2900165 Chicago, Illinois 60602-3337 File Information: M.R. 19579, 03 CH 26 Mr. Victor, who was licensed in 1958, was disbarred. He misappropriated over $122,000 in real estate proceeds after forging his client’s name to a check. He also neglected client matters, failed to return unearned fees, failed to respond to client requests for information about their respective cases, and failed to participate in the disciplinary proceeding. In re ANDREW A. XAMPLAS, Attorney
Number 6205429 Skokie, Illinois 60077-3303 File information: M.R. 19617, 03 CH 57 Mr. Xamplas, who was licensed in 1990, was suspended for one year and until further order of the Court. He practiced law while unregistered, did not refund unearned fees, failed to cooperate with the disciplinary investigation, and neglected criminal, personal injury and bankruptcy matters. THE FOLLOWING DISCIPLINARY ORDER WAS ENTERED BY THE COURT BEFORE THE SEPTEMBER TERM BUT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY PREVIOUS INFORMATION RELEASE In re ARNIM JOHNSON, Jr., Attorney
Number 3126178 Chicago, Illinois 60617-1153 File information: M.R. 18466, 02 CH 13 (Order entered May 27, 2004) Mr. Johnson, who was licensed in 1980, was suspended in 2003 for six months with the suspension stayed by a two-year period of probation with conditions. He neglected three personal injury matters, paid one of his clients $500 to settle all malpractice claims she might have against him without advising the client that she should consult independent counsel, and issued two checks to the Sheriff of Cook County which were returned for insufficient funds. Because he failed to comply with all of the conditions of his probation, his probation was revoked, and he was suspended for six months. |