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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 Wednesday, January 19, 2005 10:00 A.M. LAWYER DISCIPLINARY ORDERS The Supreme Court of Illinois on Friday
January 14, 2005, 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. 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 ALAN J. BERNSTEIN, Attorney
Number 3128637 File information: M.R. 19792, 03 CH 69 Mr. Bernstein, who was licensed in 1981, was suspended for 90 days, with the last 60 days stayed pending completion of a one-year period of probation with conditions. He neglected a client’s civil matter and failed to preserve the identity of $2,000 in client funds. The suspension is effective on February 4, 2005. In re WYVONNIA
FORD BRIDGEFORTH, File Information: M.R. 19820, 03 CH 36 Ms. Bridgeforth, who was licensed in 1987, was suspended for one year and until further order of the Court. She neglected two civil matters, did not communicate with clients, and failed to cooperate with the disciplinary investigation. She was previously suspended for unrelated misconduct. In re JOYCE
SEABERRY BRITTON, Attorney Number 6180093 File Information: M.R. 19885, 04 CH 13 Ms. Britton, who was licensed in 1981, was disbarred. She charged excessive fees, neglected three client matters resulting in prejudice to each of her clients, engaged in dishonest conduct, failed to cooperate with the disciplinary investigation, and failed to appear at her hearing.In re TROY LESLIE
DAUGHERTY, Attorney Number 6190586 File Information: M.R. 19795, 04 RC 1512 Mr. Daugherty was admitted in Illinois in 1985 and in Kansas in 1990. The Supreme Court of Kansas censured him for neglecting client matters. The Illinois Supreme Court imposed reciprocal discipline and censured him. In re DONALD
SIDNEY DOBKIN, Attorney Number 646865 File information: M.R. 19830, 04 RC 1517 Mr. Dobkin was licensed in Illinois in 1977 and in Michigan in 1979. He was reprimanded by the Michigan Attorney Grievance Commission for failing to keep a client informed of the status of a case and not ensuring that an associate whom he supervised informed the client of the status of his case. The Illinois Supreme Court imposed reciprocal discipline and reprimanded him. In re DAVID BENJAMIN FAIRLESS, Attorney Number 6195966646 West Sheridan Road, 2W Chicago, Illinois 60613-3397 File information: M.R. 19816, 04 CH 57 Mr. Fairless, who was licensed in 1987, was suspended for 18 months and until further order of the Court. He was found guilty of possessing a controlled substance, methamphetamine. He was sentenced to a three-year period of probation, fined $1,000, and ordered to complete a drug treatment program. In re CHERYL ANN
HANDY, Attorney Number 6216198 File information: M.R. 19825, 03 SH 118 Ms. Handy, who was licensed in 1993, was suspended for one year and until further order of the Court. She made misrepresentations to the appellate court and misappropriated client funds in an immigration matter. She is currently suspended for unrelated misconduct. In re THOMAS
MURPHY HESTER, Attorney Number 6207078 File information: M.R. 19802, 03 CH 109 Mr. Hester, who was licensed in 1991, was disbarred. While serving a suspension for prior misconduct, he engaged in the unauthorized practice of law by acting as an attorney in two real estate transactions. He failed to participate in the disciplinary proceedings. In re CHARLES
PAUL HORN, Attorney Number 6182811 File information: M.R. 19833, 04 RC 1516 Mr. Horn was licensed in Florida in 1983 and in Illinois in 1984. He was suspended for thirty days by the Supreme Court of Florida for misconduct involving his plea of guilty to committing misdemeanor traffic offenses and his failure to appear in court on an order to show cause. He also neglected one case and failed to return documents to a client. The Illinois Supreme Court imposed reciprocal discipline and suspended him for thirty days. The suspension is effective on February 4, 2005. In re MICHAEL
DANIEL JOHNSON, Attorney Number 6182444 File Information: M.R. 19826, 03 CH 131 Mr. Johnson, who was licensed to practice law in Illinois in 1981, was censured. He assisted a client in backdating a letter purporting to memorialize the date on which she discharged. Mr. Johnson’s co-counsel in a civil matter where the date could have impacted the fee that the co-counsel could claim. Mr. Johnson also pled guilty to a charge of disorderly conduct in an unrelated matter. In re CARL
WEHLING KUHN, Attorney Number 1544640 File Information: M.R. 19821, 03 CH 55 Mr. Kuhn, who was licensed in 1953, was disbarred. Although suspended for misconduct, he engaged in the unauthorized practice of law in five client matters. Further, he neglected two civil matters and made misrepresentations to impede the disciplinary investigation. He failed to appear at his hearing. In re JOHN
CHRISTOPHER LANDIS, IV, File Information: M.R. 19831, 04 RC 1518 Mr. Landis was licensed in Illinois in 1970 and in Delaware in 1978. The Supreme Court of Delaware suspended him for three years, imposed a three-year term of probation, and ordered that he be allowed to petition for reinstatement after the first six months of his suspension provided that he had complied with certain conditions. A random audit of his office bank accounts showed that he had routinely mishandled client funds and failed to file tax returns. The Illinois Supreme Court imposed reciprocal discipline and suspended him for three years under the terms and conditions of the Delaware order, and until he is reinstated in Delaware and until further order of the Court. The suspension is effective on February 4, 2005. In re STEVEN
ROBERT LISS, Attorney Number 6192526 File information: M.R. 19796, 04 RC 1513 Mr. Liss was licensed in Illinois in 1986 and in California in 1987. The State Bar Court of the State Bar of California imposed a public reproval upon him. He did not diligently manage an adoption and two divorce matters. The Illinois Supreme Court imposed reciprocal discipline and censured him. In re GERTRUDE
GURNEY McCARTHY, File information: M.R. 19813, 03 CH 54 Ms. McCarthy, who was licensed in 1982, was suspended for sixty days. She made a statement of material fact to a court that she knew or should have known was false. The suspension is effective on February 4, 2005.In re AFOMA MBARA
MPI, Attorney Number 6217492 File information: M.R. 19929, 04 DC 1005 Ms. Mpi, who was licensed in 1993, was disbarred on consent following a conviction in Switzerland for embezzling $507,000 from her employer, Caterpillar, Inc. She submitted fraudulent invoices to the company for fictitious consulting expenses. She served an 18-month prison term. In re KEVIN M.
O’BRIEN, Attorney Number 3126309 File Information: M.R. 19818, 02 CH 73 Mr. O’Brien, who was licensed in 1980, was censured. He represented multiple clients with differing interests in a wrongful death claim without providing the clients with appropriate disclosures about his conflict of interest. He also advanced living expenses to one of those clients. In re ERIC V.
PUCHALA, Attorney Number 6243689 File Information: M. R. 19823, 04 CH 17 Mr. Puchala, who was licensed in 1997, was disbarred. He misappropriated client settlement funds and failed to cooperate with the disciplinary investigation. He failed to appear at his hearing. In re JAMES A.
RESKIN, Attorney Number 6182910 File information: M.R. 19817, 04 RC 1514 Mr. Reskin was licensed in Illinois in 1982 and in Kentucky in 1992. The Supreme Court of Kentucky censured him for failing to pursue a case after he told a client that he would do so and for not communicating with his client regarding the status of the case. The Illinois Supreme Court imposed reciprocal discipline and censured him. In re JON
MICHELLE GIBBS RICHARDSON, Attorney Number
6183975 File Number: M.R. 19819, 04 CH 7 Ms. Richardson, who was licensed in 1983, was suspended for two years and until she makes certain restitution. Although suspended from the practice of law for professional misconduct, she engaged in the unauthorized practice of law by continuing to represent various clients in personal bankruptcy, domestic relations and other civil matters. The suspension is effective on February 4, 2005. In re ROBERT LEO
SHERRY, Attorney Number 6190890 File information: M.R. 19832, 04 RC 1515 Mr. Sherry was licensed in Wisconsin in 1984 and in Illinois in 1985. The Supreme Court of Wisconsin suspended him for nine months for neglecting cases, failing to return documents and unearned fees, and failing to file tax returns. The Illinois Supreme Court imposed reciprocal discipline and suspended him for nine months and until he is reinstated in Wisconsin. The suspension is effective on February 4, 2005. In re WILLIAM
CHARLES SPANGENBERG, Attorney Number 3129138 File information: M.R. 19824, 03 CH 129 Mr. Spangenberg, who was licensed in 1981, was suspended for one year and until he makes restitution of $80,000 to a decedent’s estate from which he collected an unreasonable fee. The suspension is effective on February 4, 2005. In re CHARLES E.
TANNEN,
Attorney Number 2795892 File information: M.R. 19879, 04 CH 45 Mr. Tannen, who was licensed in 1960, was censured. He neglected a personal injury case and was not candid with the client about the status of the matter. In re LUKE
TOWNSEND, Jr., Attorney Number 6181781 File information: M.R. 19794, 03 CH 94 Mr. Townsend, who was licensed in 1981, was suspended for two years with the suspension stayed after six months by an eighteen-month period of probation with conditions. He neglected a number of civil matters and initially failed to cooperate with the disciplinary investigation. The suspension is effective on February 4, 2005. In re JUDY S.
WATTS, Attorney Number 6199004 File information: M.R. 19889, 01 SH 31 Ms. Watts, who was licensed in 1988, was suspended for one year and until further order of the Court. She neglected five client cases and made representations to tribunals and clients that she knew or should have known were false. In re RICK ALLAN
WHITE, Attorney Number 3002241 File information: M.R. 19822, 03 CH 34 Mr. White, who was licensed in 1974, was suspended for eighteen months and until further order of the Court. He neglected three different client lawsuits and was not candid to his clients about the status of their cases. He was previously disciplined for unrelated misconduct. In re LA VETTA
DIANNE WALLACE WILLIAMS, File Number: M.R. 19903, 03 CH 124 Ms. Williams, who was licensed in 1990, was suspended for nine months with the suspension stayed after five months by a one-year period of probation with conditions. She mismanaged over $3,000 in funds belonging to clients and third parties in relation to two personal injury matters, and she entered into a business transaction with a client without making the proper disclosure about her conflict of interest. The suspension is effective on February 4, 2005. THE FOLLOWING DISCIPLINARY ORDERS WERE ENTERED BY THE COURT BEFORE THE JANUARY 2005 TERM BUT WERE NOT INCLUDED IN ANY PREVIOUS INFORMATION RELEASE. In re DAVID MARK
BAGDADE, Attorney Number 6202524 File information: M.R. 19712, 03 CH 60 Order Entered on November 24, 2004 Mr. Bagdade, who was licensed in 1989, was suspended on an interim basis and until further order of the Court. A Hearing Board found that he neglected a federal civil rights matter, provided false information in a certificate of service, failed to return client files, falsified a pro hac vice application and engaged in dishonesty in his own federal disciplinary proceeding. In re RICHARD
STEVEN CONNORS, Attorney Number 3122620 File information: M.R. 19747, 04 CH 122 Order Entered on December 28, 2004 Mr. Connors, who was licensed in 1978, was suspended on an interim basis and until further order of the Court. He was found guilty of conspiracy to smuggle Cuban cigars into the United States, violating the Trading with the Enemy Act, and making false statements on a passport application. He was sentenced to a 37-month prison term, fined $60,000, and ordered to pay a special assessment of $650. In re FREDERICK
ROBERT REDELL, Attorney Number 6187188 File information: M.R. 19774, 03 CH 66 Order Entered on December 17, 2004 Mr. Redell, who was licensed in 1984, was suspended on an interim basis and until further order of the Court. A Hearing Board found that he had converted funds, was incompetent, neglected a client matter, failed to promptly deliver funds to a third person, did not keep a client reasonably informed about the status of a matter, and failed to reduce a contingent fee to writing. In addition, he entered a grocery store and shoplifted a package of turkey deli slices, a can of sardines, and light bulb, for a total value of under $25. |