Summaries of Recent Supreme Court Decisions


This page contains ARDC summaries of recent disciplinary decisions issued by the Supreme Court of Illinois. The ARDC summaries contain the name of each disciplined lawyer, the community in which that lawyer last practiced, a brief summary of the misconduct and the disciplinary sanction ordered by the Court. Unless otherwise noted, the mandate of discipline issued immediately.

The opinions, announcements, and orders by the Supreme Court may be reviewed under the Recent Decisions tab or at the Supreme Court of Illinois website: www.illinoiscourts.gov. For additional information concerning the summaries of recent decisions contact Steven Splitt at (312) 565-2600 or, within Illinois, at (800) 826-8625.

Please note: Some lawyers named as respondents in disciplinary proceedings may have names similar to other lawyers on the master roll of attorneys. To verify that a particular lawyer is the respondent named in a proceeding, please call the Clerk's Office of the ARDC at (312) 565-2600 or within Illinois at (800) 826-8625.


,
Attorney Number: 3124355
Order entered: May 16, 2023
Mr. Delaney, who was licensed in 1999, was disbarred. In the course of representing three clients in various matters, he misappropriated approximately $300,000 in client funds. He also charged a client's credit card $10,000 for legal fees when the client had authorized a payment of only $2,500, and he failed to cooperate with the ARDC's investigations.

Las Vegas, Nevada
Attorney Number: 6182794
Order entered: March 21, 2023
Mr. Hamilton was licensed to practice in Illinois in 1982 and in Nevada in 2001. The Supreme Court of Nevada disbarred him for failing to comply with conditions of probation imposed in three prior Nevada disciplinary proceedings. The Supreme Court of Illinois imposed reciprocal discipline and disbarred him.

Palatine, Illinois
Attorney Number: 6280536
Order entered: March 21, 2023
Mr. Manges, who was licensed in 2003, was disbarred for forging his employer's signature on hundreds of checks payable to the employer or his law firm, and for using the proceeds of those checks, more than $165,000, for his own purposes without authority.

Elgin, Illinois
Attorney Number: 6287872
Order entered: March 21, 2023
Mr. McNulty, who was licensed in 2006, was suspended for one year and until further order of the Court, with the suspension stayed in its entirety by a two-year period of conditional probation. His discipline arose from his 2022 guilty plea to driving under the influence of alcohol and without a driver's license.

Chicago, Illinois
Attorney Number: 6257328
Order entered: March 21, 2023
Mr. Schwartz, who was licensed in 1999, was suspended for one year and until further order of the Court and until he makes restitution of $1,000 to a client. He failed to appropriately pursue two criminal appeals and an employment matter, refused to refund $1,000 in unearned fees, and did not participate in his disciplinary proceeding. A suspension until further order of the Court is an indefinite suspension which requires the suspended lawyer to petition for reinstatement after the fixed period of suspension ends. Reinstatement is not automatic and must be allowed by the Supreme Court of Illinois following a hearing before the ARDC Hearing Board.

Peoria, Illinois
Attorney Number: 6285393
Order entered: March 21, 2023
Ms. Williams, who was licensed in 2005, was suspended for 90 days after she pled guilty to forgery for submitting a falsified public service worksheet to a court services office in an attempt to show that she had complied with her sentence for a speeding infraction. The suspension is effective on April 11, 2023.

Tucson, Arizona
Attorney Number: 6276934
Order entered: March 21, 2023
Mr. Morgan was licensed in Illinois in 2002 and admitted as in-house counsel in Arizona in 2019. Arizona attorney discipline authorities admonished him for engaging in the practice of law in Arizona without timely registering as in-house counsel. The Supreme Court of Illinois imposed reciprocal discipline and reprimanded him.

Chicago, Illinois
Attorney Number: 6303022
Order entered: March 21, 2023
Mr. Casper, who was licensed in 2010, was suspended for one year and until further order of the Court, with the suspension stayed after 60 days by a two-year period of probation with conditions. While representing a group of employees in a federal civil rights lawsuit against the City of Chicago and various individual defendants, Mr. Casper called one of the defendants whom he knew to be represented by counsel and had an approximately 20-minute conversation about the case. He later falsely stated to that defendant's counsel that he made no such call, altered his cell phone records to make it appear as though he did not make the call, and sent those altered records to the defendant's attorney. He also filed the altered records, along with a sworn declaration falsely claiming that they were accurate, with the court. The suspension is effective on April 11, 2023.

Lincolnshire, Illinois
Attorney Number: 377317
Order entered: March 21, 2023
Mr. Campbell, who was licensed in 1969, was suspended for 90 days. He did not diligently represent a client in a medical malpractice action, resulting in the case being dismissed for want of prosecution. He then falsely led his client to believe that her case was still pending. The suspension is effective on April 11, 2023.

Edwardsville, Illinois
Attorney Number: 6200459
Order entered: March 21, 2023
Mr. Wigginton, who was licensed in 1989, was suspended for one year and until further order of the Court, with the suspension stayed in its entirety by a three-year period of probation with conditions. Between 2017 and 2019, Mr. Wigginton was arrested three times for driving under the influence (DUI) in Madison County. In the first case, Mr. Wigginton pled guilty to DUI and received court supervision. The second and third cases were resolved as part of a plea agreement in which he pled guilty to the second DUI charge and was sentenced to 24 months' probation, 160 hours of community service, and a $2,800 fine in return for the dismissal of the third case.

Peoria, Illinois
Attorney Number: 2711257
Order entered: March 21, 2023
Mr. Steagall, who was licensed in 1978, was suspended for two years and until further order of the Court. He engaged in the unauthorized practice of law by representing a client while he was suspended from the practice of law in state and federal court. In another matter, he failed to communicate with a client and did not return a $2,500 unearned fee. A suspension until further order of the Court is an indefinite suspension which requires the suspended lawyer to petition for reinstatement after the fixed period of suspension ends. Reinstatement is not automatic and must be allowed by the Supreme Court of Illinois following a hearing before the ARDC Hearing Board.

Chicago, Illinois
Attorney Number: 6181744
Order entered: March 21, 2023
Mr. Spector, who was licensed in 1981, was suspended for 90 days. Over the course of 19 months, he represented nine clients in criminal matters after he had been removed from the roll of attorneys for failing to register with the Commission, pay his annual registration fee, and comply with Minimum Continuing Legal Education requirements. The suspension is effective on April 11, 2023.

Geneva, Illinois
Attorney Number: 6208665
Order entered: March 21, 2023
Mr. Parsons, who was licensed in 1992, was suspended for three years and until further order of the Court. He dishonestly misappropriated over $69,000 in client funds in a probate matter. A suspension until further order of the Court is an indefinite suspension which requires the suspended lawyer to petition for reinstatement after the fixed period of suspension ends. Reinstatement is not automatic and must be allowed by the Supreme Court of Illinois following a hearing before the ARDC Hearing Board.

Chicago, Illinois
Attorney Number: 6206474
Order entered: January 24, 2023
Mr. Abbas, who was licensed in Illinois in 1991, was suspended on an interim basis and until further order of the Court after he was convicted of two counts of wire fraud, two counts of unlawful monetary transactions, one count of money laundering, and one count of money laundering conspiracy. He was involved in a number of internet scams including “romance scams” in which he would use online dating profiles to have victims transfer money under false pretenses.

Chicago, Illinois
Attorney Number: 6290003
Order entered: January 17, 2023
Ms. Lane, who was licensed in 2006, was suspended for nine months, with the suspension stayed after six months by a six-month term of probation with conditions. While she was engaged in litigation in a federal court, Ms. Lane sent three e-mails containing false or reckless statements about a magistrate judge's integrity to the judge, courtroom personnel and another attorney involved in the case. The suspension is effective on February 7, 2023.

Chicago, Illinois
Attorney Number: 6291557
Order entered: January 17, 2023
Mr. Fromme, who was licensed in 2007, was suspended for three years and until further order of the Court. On at least 90 occasions, he used a credit card belonging to the real estate company for which he was in-house counsel to make unauthorized payments to merchant accounts he controlled. The payments totaled over $136,000. In addition, he misrepresented to the ARDC the amount of restitution he had paid to the credit card company. A suspension until further order of the Court is an indefinite suspension which requires the suspended lawyer to petition for reinstatement after the fixed period of suspension ends. Reinstatement is not automatic and must be allowed by the Supreme Court of Illinois following a hearing before the ARDC Hearing Board.

Chicago, Illinois
Attorney Number: 6277289
Order entered: January 17, 2023
Mr. Cooper, who was licensed in 2002, was suspended for three years and until further order of the Court. He signed his personal injury client's name on a settlement release, falsely attested that he had witnessed his client's signature, used $36,641 of settlement funds without his client's authorization, and concealed his use of the client's funds. A suspension until further order of the Court is an indefinite suspension which requires the suspended lawyer to petition for reinstatement after the fixed period of suspension ends. Reinstatement is not automatic and must be allowed by the Supreme Court of Illinois following a hearing before the ARDC Hearing Board.

Chicago, Illinois
Attorney Number: 6208136
Order entered: January 17, 2023
Ms. Sarnicki, who was licensed in 1991, was suspended for 30 days. She assisted a disbarred attorney in the unauthorized practice of law by representing an individual in a workers' compensation case without the individual's consent, thereby allowing the disbarred attorney to falsely represent himself to the individual as being able to practice law. The suspension is effective on February 7, 2023.

Chicago, Illinois
Attorney Number: 6215707
Order entered: January 17, 2023
Mr. Araujo, who was licensed in 1993, was disbarred for sexually harassing three women: a Chicago police officer, a court reporter and an Assistant State's Attorney, while he was acting as a Cook County Circuit Court Judge. The Illinois Courts Commission initiated a disciplinary matter against then-Judge Araujo based on this same misconduct and entered an oral ruling finding that he had committed the misconduct. Mr. Araujo, however, retired from the bench one month before the Courts Commission entered its written findings on the ruling, thereby preventing the Courts Commission from pursuing discipline against him.

Herrin, Illinois
Attorney Number: 6209596
Order entered: January 17, 2023
Mr. Bartelsmeyer, who was licensed in 1992, was suspended for three years and until further order of the Court. While acting as an attorney agent for Attorneys' Title Guaranty Fund, Inc. in connection with various real estate matters, he converted $11,123 belonging to ATG and provided altered bank statements to ATG in order to conceal his conversions. A suspension until further order of the Court is an indefinite suspension which requires the suspended lawyer to petition for reinstatement after the fixed period of suspension ends. Reinstatement is not automatic and must be allowed by the Supreme Court of Illinois following a hearing before the ARDC Hearing Board.

Belleville, Illinois
Attorney Number: 6271777
Order entered: January 17, 2023
Ms. Lowery, who was licensed in 2000, was suspended for 30 days and required to successfully complete the ARDC Professionalism Seminar within one year. She knowingly or recklessly made a false statement impugning the integrity of a judge and made false statements to the ARDC during her sworn statement. The suspension is effective on February 7, 2023.

Belvidere, Illinois
Attorney Number: 6185746
Order entered: January 17, 2023
Mr. Luchtenburg, who was licensed in 1983, was suspended for 30 days. He engaged in a conflict of interest by representing a client in a dissolution of marriage case while also pursuing a romantic relationship with her. He also made false or misleading statements in connection with the Administrator's investigation of his conduct. The suspension is effective on February 7, 2023.

Homewood, Illinois
Attorney Number: 6314281
Order entered: January 17, 2023
Ms. Winbush, who was licensed in 2013, was suspended for 90 days and until further order of the Court, with the suspension stayed in its entirety by a two-year period of probation with conditions. A judge held her in contempt for failing to appear at multiple court dates in a dissolution of marriage matter. In another case, she failed to timely turn over a client file to new counsel and was sanctioned by the court for not complying with various court orders.

Rockford, Illinois
Attorney Number: 6271587
Order entered: January 17, 2023
Ms. Beran, who was licensed in 2000, was suspended for six months and until further order of the Court, with the suspension stayed after 30 days by a two-year period of probation with conditions. She did not diligently handle two dissolution of marriage matters and one child custody matter, and she repeatedly failed to respond to clients' requests for information about their cases. The suspension is effective on February 7, 2023.

Tucson, Arizona
Attorney Number: 6313717
Order entered: January 17, 2023
Mr. Peterson, who was licensed in 2013, was suspended for six months. He agreed to the purported settlement of an underinsured motorist claim against his client, an insurance company, for $75,000 without the company's authorization, and repeatedly made false statements to his opposing counsel about the status of the purported settlement. The suspension is effective on February 7, 2023.

Tulsa, Oklahoma
Attorney Number: 6333638
Order entered: January 17, 2023
Mr. Hall, who was licensed in 2019, was suspended for 60 days, with the suspension stayed after 30 days by a one-year period of probation with conditions. He recorded 277 hours in false time entries while working on a document review project for a large law firm. The suspension is effective on February 7, 2023.

Chicago, Illinois
Attorney Number: 6226455
Order entered: January 17, 2023
Mr. Semrad, who was licensed in 1994, was suspended for 90 days and until further order of the Court. In 2012, Mr. Semrad was placed on court supervision for a misdemeanor driving-under-the-influence charge, and he was later convicted of misdemeanor domestic battery. A suspension until further order of the Court is an indefinite suspension which requires the suspended lawyer to petition for reinstatement after the fixed period of suspension ends. Reinstatement is not automatic and must be allowed by the Supreme Court of Illinois following a hearing before the ARDC Hearing Board.

Seattle, Washington
Attorney Number: 1383485
Order entered: December 2, 2022
Ms. Kahr, who was licensed in Illinois in 1974, was suspended on an interim basis and until further order of the Court after she was convicted in Washington of two counts of theft for having misappropriated more than $282,000 from a disabled man while serving as the man's guardian. She used the funds to satisfy her delinquent mortgage.

Oak Park, Illinois
Attorney Number: 6311937
Order entered: November 23, 2022
Ms. Murray, who was licensed in 2013, was suspended for six months and until further order of the Court and until she completes the ARDC Professionalism Seminar. She took a $2,500 retainer to represent a client in a civil matter but did not pursue the matter, communicate with the client, or refund her unearned fee. She also failed to cooperate with the ARDC's investigation of her conduct. A suspension until further order of the Court is an indefinite suspension which requires the suspended lawyer to petition for reinstatement after the fixed period of suspension ends. Reinstatement is not automatic and must be allowed by the Supreme Court of Illinois following a hearing before the ARDC Hearing Board.

Crystal Lake, Illinois
Attorney Number: 6269706
Order entered: November 23, 2022
Mr. Emerald, who was licensed in 1999, was suspended for one year and until he makes restitution to a client. He delayed in filing a probate case and misled his client about the case's status. When he eventually opened the probate case, he forged the client's signature on documents and filed them with the court. He also forged the client's ex-spouse's signature on a document, although he did not file it with the court. The suspension is effective on December 14, 2022.

Belleville, Illinois
Attorney Number: 6203242
Order entered: November 23, 2022
Mr. Duebbert, a former circuit court judge in St. Clair County who was licensed in 1990, was suspended for one year and until further order of the Court. In 2016 and 2107, he made false statements to the police and to the Judicial Inquiry Board about his contacts with a friend of his who was the subject of a criminal investigation. He has been suspended on an interim basis since July 13, 2020. A suspension until further order of the Court is an indefinite suspension which requires the suspended lawyer to petition for reinstatement after the fixed period of suspension ends. Reinstatement is not automatic and must be allowed by the Supreme Court of Illinois following a hearing before the ARDC Hearing Board.

Chicago, Illinois
Attorney Number: 6186506
Order entered: November 23, 2022
Ms. Susman, who was licensed in 1983, was suspended for five months, with the suspension stayed in full by one year of probation with conditions. She failed to diligently pursue two clients' immigration matters, did not adequately communicate with the clients, and failed to respond to the ARDC's requests for information.

Chicago, Illinois
Attorney Number: 6298166
Order entered: November 23, 2022
Ms. Yohanna, who was licensed in 2009, was suspended for six months. While working as an investigator for the Civilian Office of Police Accountability ("COPA") in Chicago, she repeatedly, and without authorization, accessed a private database of police records in violation of the terms of her employment. When an investigation ensued, she falsely reported that another COPA investigator, whom she wrongly suspected of having reported her misconduct, was planning on carrying out a mass shooting at the COPA office. The suspension is effective on December 14, 2022.

Fort Myer, Virginia
Attorney Number: 6238173
Order entered: November 23, 2022
Mr. Stone, who was licensed in 1996, was disbarred on consent for neglecting six client matters, failing to refund approximately $16,000 in unearned fees, and making misrepresentations to clients, a court and the ARDC regarding those matters and his health.

Chicago, Illinois
Attorney Number: 6225351
Order entered: November 23, 2022
Mr. Kolb, who was licensed in 1994, was suspended for 30 days. Ten months after learning of his personal injury client's death, Mr. Kolb prepared and sent a letter to an insurance company demanding settlement for injuries and for "future pain and physical limitations." The insurance company made a counteroffer, and Mr. Kolb purported to enter into a settlement agreement despite never having taken steps to substitute the deceased client's estate as the claimant. He did so even though he knew that the insurance company was unaware that his client had died. The suspension is effective on December 14, 2022.

Chicago, Illinois
Attorney Number: 6309877
Order entered: October 4, 2022
Mr. Patel, who was licensed in 2012, was suspended on an interim basis and until further order of the Court after he pled guilty in a California federal court to conspiracy to commit securities fraud and manipulative trading. In his plea agreement, Mr. Patel acknowledged that he and other defendants, including the CEO of a home healthcare company, engaged in what is known as a “pump and dump” scheme by conspiring to make it appear that there was an active market for shares in the company, when in fact those shares were thinly traded.

Oak Park, Illinois
Attorney Number: 6211359
Order entered: September 23, 2022
Mr. Ruggiero, who was licensed in 1992, was suspended on an interim basis and until further order of the Court after the ARDC's Inquiry Board authorized the filing of a formal disciplinary complaint charging him with dishonestly misappropriating more than $260,000 to which he had access as trustee of his late aunt's trust.

Skokie, Illinois
Attorney Number: 1646710
Order entered: September 21, 2022
Mr. Lewin, who was licensed in 1974, was suspended from the practice of law for 60 days. He communicated with a defendant in a criminal case whom he knew to be represented by counsel without consent of that defendant's lawyer. He also prepared and had that defendant sign a typewritten incriminating statement, which he then filed with a motion to reduce bond in his own client's case. Mr. Lewin also sought to represent that defendant even though the representation would be directly adverse to, and materially limited by, his responsibilities to another client in a related case. The suspension is effective on November 1, 2022.

Chicago, Illinois
Attorney Number: 6180511
Order entered: September 21, 2022
Mr. Gannett was licensed to practice in Illinois in 1981 and in Massachusetts in 1982. The Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts disbarred him for intentionally converting over $42,000 that he was supposed to be holding in connection with an insurance dispute. The Supreme Court of Illinois imposed reciprocal discipline and disbarred him.

Madison, Wisconsin
Attorney Number: 6225606
Order entered: September 21, 2022
Mr. McIntyre, who was licensed in 1994, was suspended for 18 months and until further order of the Court. His misconduct arose from his December 2017 guilty plea to a charge of battery after he punched an employee of a tavern and his October 2018 guilty plea to operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated, his third conviction for driving while intoxicated. A suspension until further order of the Court is an indefinite suspension which requires the suspended lawyer to petition for reinstatement after the fixed period of suspension ends. Reinstatement is not automatic and must be allowed by the Supreme Court of Illinois following a hearing before the ARDC Hearing Board.

Chicago, Illinois
Attorney Number: 6189613
Order entered: September 21, 2022
Mr. McNabola, who was licensed in 1985, was censured for misconduct in connection with two separate matters. In one matter, he facilitated ten separate loans from his father to one of his clients. After the representation of that client ended and the client did not repay the loans, one of Mr. McNabola's partners represented Mr. McNabola's father in a collection lawsuit against the former client. In another matter, following a dispute with his former partners that went to arbitration, Mr. McNabola issued a subpoena for an employee's cell phone records under the caption of the closed arbitration matter.

Bridgman, Michigan
Attorney Number: 6257717
Order entered: September 21, 2022
Mr. Babcock, who was licensed in 1992, was disbarred on consent. In September 2021, a Michigan jury found him guilty of three counts of criminal sexual conduct.

Rock Island, Illinois
Attorney Number: 1498606
Order entered: September 21, 2022
Mr. Koenig, who was licensed in 1975, was suspended for one year for intentionally converting $70,076 in funds that were owed to his client after the settlement of a lawsuit over the construction of a will. The suspension is effective on November 2, 2022.

Chicago, Illinois
Attorney Number: 6227144
Order entered: September 21, 2022
Mr. Smith, who was licensed in 1995, was suspended for five months. He failed to report his mother's death to her retirement benefit fund, and, for 10 months, he received and used $37,151 in annuity payments to which he was not entitled. The suspension is effective on October 12, 2022.

Westmont, Illinois
Attorney Number: 6192484
Order entered: September 21, 2022
Mr. Kendall, who was licensed in 1986, was censured. He commenced and conducted an inappropriate sexual relationship with a client after the formation of their client-lawyer relationship and engaged in dishonest conduct when he prepared a letter to the woman's prospective landlord falsely identifying her as an employee of his law firm and providing false information about her purported salary and work history.

Springfield, Virginia
Attorney Number: 2516829
Order entered: September 21, 2022
Mr. Schulz was licensed in Illinois in 1968 and in Virginia in 1982. The Virginia State Bar Disciplinary Board revoked his license to practice law and struck his name from the roll of attorneys after he failed to perfect the appeal of his client's criminal matter, resulting in the dismissal of his client's appeal. The Supreme Court of Illinois imposed reciprocal discipline and suspended him until he is reinstated to the practice of law in Virginia.

Champaign, Illinois
Attorney Number: 6278446
Order entered: September 21, 2022
Mr. Sides, who was licensed in 2002, was suspended for one year and until further order of the Court. He made false or reckless statements about the integrity of a federal bankruptcy judge in nine motions filed in the bankruptcy or federal district court. A suspension until further order of the Court is an indefinite suspension which requires the suspended lawyer to petition for reinstatement after the fixed period of suspension ends. Reinstatement is not automatic and must be allowed by the Supreme Court of Illinois following a hearing before the ARDC Hearing Board.

Santa Ana, California
Attorney Number: 1907913
Order entered: September 21, 2022
Mr. Miles was licensed to practice in Illinois in 1975 and in California in 1985. The Supreme Court of California suspended him for two years, stayed after 90 days by two years of probation with conditions, for misusing his client trust account over a 17-month period and failing to respond to California bar authorities' requests for information about his conduct. The Supreme Court of Illinois imposed reciprocal discipline and suspended him for two years in Illinois, stayed after 90 days by a term of probation subject to the conditions imposed in California and continuing until his California probation is satisfied. The suspension is effective on October 12, 2022.

Chicago, Illinois
Attorney Number: 6206480
Order entered: September 21, 2022
Mr. Ahn, who was licensed in 1991, was suspended for one year and until further order of the Court. He refused to withdraw his appearance in a client's dissolution of marriage case after the client's relative, who had been authorized as the client's attorney-in-fact, terminated his representation, and he filed frivolous pleadings and acted dishonestly to benefit himself in the matter. In another case, he represented a client despite a conflict of interest and acted dishonestly to benefit a third person in the transfer of a condominium via a quitclaim deed. A suspension until further order of the Court is an indefinite suspension which requires the suspended lawyer to petition for reinstatement after the fixed period of suspension ends. Reinstatement is not automatic and must be allowed by the Supreme Court of Illinois following a hearing before the ARDC Hearing Board.

St. Louis, Missouri
Attorney Number: 6198037
Order entered: September 21, 2022
Ms. McCloskey was licensed in Illinois in 1988 and in Missouri in 1987. The Missouri Supreme Court indefinitely suspended her, with the suspension fully stayed by a one-year period of probation with conditions, and ordered that, should probation be revoked and the suspension take effect, no petition for reinstatement would be considered for a period of six months from the date the suspension became effective. She pled guilty to misdemeanor harassment for pointing a semi-automatic pistol at a group of protesting individuals outside of her home, with the purpose of causing emotional distress. The Supreme Court of Illinois imposed reciprocal discipline and suspended her for six months and until further order of the Court, with the suspension stayed in its entirety by a one-year period of probation, nunc pro tunc to February 8, 2022, subject to the conditions imposed in Missouri and continuing until she successfully completes her Missouri probation.

Edwardsville, Illinois
Attorney Number: 6316215
Order entered: September 21, 2022
Ms. Biagi, who was licensed in 2014, was suspended from the practice of law for five months. In 2019, she was convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol and other offenses after she drove into a police patrol car. In 2021, she was convicted of theft after she altered a site development plan that had earlier been prepared for her by a licensed engineer and submitted the altered plan to a county development department. The suspension is effective on October 12, 2022.

Bettendorf, Iowa
Attorney Number: 6203590
Order entered: September 21, 2022
Mr. Newport was licensed to practice in Illinois in 1990 and in Iowa in 1978. The Supreme Court of Iowa suspended him with no possibility of reinstatement for one year for sexually harassing two clients. The Supreme Court of Illinois imposed reciprocal discipline and suspended him for one year and until he is reinstated to the practice of law in Iowa. The suspension is effective on October 12, 2022.

Phoenix, Arizona
Attorney Number: 6298936
Order entered: September 21, 2022
Ms. Tate was licensed in Illinois in 2009 and in Arizona in 2015. The Presiding Disciplinary Judge of the Supreme Court of Arizona reprimanded her and placed her on a one-year period of probation with conditions. While handling a federal civil matter, she failed to comply with court orders to file certain documents by specific deadlines, did not address controlling caselaw in her arguments and pleadings or understand relevant legal documents or procedures, and did not review pleadings that her paralegal had drafted before she filed them with the court. The Supreme Court of Illinois imposed reciprocal discipline, reprimanding her and placing her on a one-year period of probation, nunc pro tunc to May 10, 2022, subject to the conditions imposed by Arizona and continuing until she successfully completes her Arizona probation.

Crystal Lake, Illinois
Attorney Number: 3123594
Order entered: September 21, 2022
Mr. Roth, who was licensed in 1979, was disbarred on consent. His misconduct arose from his June 2021 conviction in Lake County for aggravated driving under the influence of alcohol, causing the death of another. Following his conviction, Mr. Roth was sentenced to five years in prison.

Park Ridge, Illinois
Attorney Number: 6198441
Order entered: September 21, 2022
Mr. Krkljes, who was licensed in 1988, was suspended for one year and until further order of the Court, with the suspension stayed after 30 days in favor of a two-year period of probation with conditions. He failed to diligently pursue a workers' compensation and a personal injury matter and misrepresented the status of those matters to his clients. He also pled guilty to a misdemeanor charge of driving under the influence of alcohol. The suspension is effective on October 12, 2022.

Naperville, Illinois
Attorney Number: 6244663
Order entered: September 21, 2022
Mr. McCarty was licensed in 1998. He was suspended for one year with the suspension stayed after 60 days in favor of an 18-month period of probation with conditions. He failed to diligently pursue several clients' dissolution of marriage cases, he did not keep those clients reasonably informed about their matters or promptly comply with their reasonable requests for information, and he failed to refund unearned fees. The suspension is effective on October 12, 2022.

Chicago, Illinois
Attorney Number: 6197210
Order entered: September 21, 2022
Mr. Gomez, who was licensed in 1988, was suspended for three years and until further order of the Court. In three separate legal matters, he repeatedly sent threatening and harassing email messages to other attorneys. A suspension until further order of the Court is an indefinite suspension which requires the suspended lawyer to petition for reinstatement after the fixed period of suspension ends. Reinstatement is not automatic and must be allowed by the Supreme Court of Illinois following a hearing before the ARDC Hearing Board.

St. Louis, Missouri
Attorney Number: 6195292
Order entered: September 21, 2022
Mr. McCloskey was licensed in Illinois in 1987 and in Missouri in 1986. The Missouri Supreme Court indefinitely suspended him, with the suspension fully stayed by a one-year period of probation with conditions, and ordered that, should probation be revoked and the suspension take effect, no petition for reinstatement would be considered for a period of six months from the date the suspension became effective. He pled guilty to misdemeanor assault for waiving a semi-automatic rifle in the direction of protesting individuals outside of his home, purposefully placing at least one other person in apprehension of immediate physical injury. The Supreme Court of Illinois imposed reciprocal discipline and suspended him for six months and until further order of the Court, with the suspension stayed in its entirety by a one-year period of probation, nunc pro tunc to February 8, 2022, subject to the conditions imposed in Missouri and continuing until he successfully completes his Missouri probation.

Chicago, Illinois
Attorney Number: 6255568
Order entered: September 21, 2022
Ms. O'Brien, who was licensed in 1998, was disbarred. She has been suspended on an interim basis since April 26, 2018, after a federal jury in Chicago found her guilty of the crimes of mail fraud and bank fraud based on her involvement in a scheme to obtain bank loans by making false statements about her income and liabilities.

Chicago, Illinois
Attorney Number: 6189764
Order entered: September 21, 2022
Mr. Palladinetti, who was licensed in 1985, was disbarred. He was found guilty of bank fraud after he participated in a multi-year scheme that provided fraudulent information to lenders in order to qualify buyers for mortgage loans to purchase condominium units owned by other participants in the scheme.

Olney, Illinois
Attorney Number: 6335297
Order entered: September 21, 2022
Mr. McCormick, who was licensed in Illinois in 2021, was suspended for two years and until further order of the Court, with the suspension stayed after six months by a two-year period of probation with conditions. He failed to diligently handle a number of bankruptcy matters, did not adequately communicate with those clients, and made misrepresentations to those clients and his employer about the status of the cases. The suspension is effective on October 12, 2022.

St. Louis, Missouri
Attorney Number: 6284488
Order entered: May 19, 2022
Mr. Easley was licensed to practice in Illinois in 2007 and in Missouri in 2000. The Supreme Court of Missouri entered an order suspending him indefinitely and staying the suspension in full in favor of a two-year period of conditional probation. Mr. Easley failed act with reasonable diligence to complete an elderly client's estate planning matter and did not reasonably communicate with the client. The Supreme Court of Illinois imposed reciprocal discipline and suspended him until he is reinstated to the practice of law in Missouri, with the suspension stayed in its entirety by a term of probation subject to the conditions imposed in Missouri and continuing until he has satisfied his Missouri probation.

Colorado Springs, Colorado
Attorney Number: 6216189
Order entered: May 19, 2022
Mr. Halling was licensed to practice in Illinois in 1993 and in Colorado in 1995. The Supreme Court of Colorado disbarred him for not diligently representing three clients in patent matters, failing to keep clients informed about the status of their matters, converting client funds in two of the matters, and abandoning two of the clients. The Supreme Court of Illinois imposed reciprocal discipline and disbarred him.

Oak Park, Illinois
Attorney Number: 6224951
Order entered: May 19, 2022
Ms. Franklin, who was licensed in 1994, was disbarred for intentionally converting more than $122,000 owed to ten separate clients in workers' compensation and other matters.

Newport News, Virginia
Attorney Number: 6284760
Order entered: May 19, 2022
Mr. Darnell was licensed to practice in Illinois in 2005 and in Virginia in 2007. On March 18, 2021, the Virginia State Disciplinary Board entered an order suspending him for nine months, effective on September 19, 2022, when his current three-year Virginia suspension ends. Mr. Darnell did not diligently pursue a client's personal injury matter, did not reasonably communicate with his client, and made misrepresentations to his client about the status of her matter. The Supreme Court of Illinois imposed reciprocal discipline and suspended him for nine months and until he is reinstated to the practice of law in Virginia, effective on October 13, 2023, when his current Illinois reciprocal suspension is due to end.

Lyons, Illinois
Attorney Number: 6184345
Order entered: May 19, 2022
Mr. McCulloh, who licensed in 1983, was suspended from the practice of law for one year, with the suspension stayed after 60 days in favor of a one-year period of probation. He commingled and used without authority approximately $5,200 in others' funds in connection with real estate escrow and earnest money matters. The suspension is effective on June 9, 2022.

Chicago, Illinois
Attorney Number: 6320242
Order entered: May 19, 2022
Ms. Azimi, who was licensed in 2015, was suspended for 90 days. In the course of representing a client in an immigration matter, she failed to file an application to adjust the client's visa status, made false statements about the status of the matter to the client, and generated two fabricated emails purportedly from an immigration agency in order to mislead the client about the status of the matter. The suspension is effective on June 9, 2022.

Deltona, Florida
Attorney Number: 6181121
Order entered: May 19, 2022
Mr. Leone was licensed to practice in Illinois in 1981 and in Florida in 1985. In December 2020, the Supreme Court of Florida granted Mr. Leone's petition for disciplinary revocation of his law license, with leave to seek readmission after five years. He had misrepresented facts to a third person in connection with litigation over a piece of property on which Mr. Leone and his wife had paid past-due property taxes. The Supreme Court of Illinois imposed reciprocal discipline and suspended him until he is reinstated to the practice of law in Florida. The suspension is effective on June 9, 2022.

Chicago, Illinois
Attorney Number: 6298009
Order entered: May 19, 2022
Mr. Ybarra, who was licensed in 2008, was suspended for one year, with the suspension stayed after 60 days by an 18-month period of conditional probation. Mr. Ybarra failed to diligently represent clients in several matters, including divorce and family-law cases, made misrepresentations to clients about the status of their matters, and did not refund unearned fees to a number of those clients. The suspension is effective on June 9, 2022.

Peshtigo, Wisconsin
Attorney Number: 6244774
Order entered: May 19, 2022
Mr. Ries, who licensed in 1998, was suspended from the practice of law for two years and until he is reinstated to the practice of law before the United States Patent and Trademark Office. He engaged in a number of criminal acts involving incidents of domestic violence and driving while over the legal limit for alcohol, and he mishandled three patent applications. The suspension is effective on June 9, 2022.

Manzon, Indiana
Attorney Number: 6257235
Order entered: March 25, 2022
Mr. White was licensed in Illinois in 1998 and in Indiana in 1999. The Indiana Supreme Court suspended him for three years, without automatic reinstatement, for failing to act with diligence in a criminal matter and a paternity case, failing to properly communicate with clients, and not cooperating in his own disciplinary proceedings. The Supreme Court of Illinois imposed reciprocal discipline and suspended him for three years and until he is reinstated in Indiana. The suspension is effective on April 15, 2022.

Phoenix, Arizona
Attorney Number: 6181649
Order entered: March 25, 2022
Mr. O'Connor was licensed in Illinois in 1980 and in Arizona in 1988. An Arizona disciplinary hearing panel disbarred him for engaging in a pattern of misconduct in three separate matters. In one matter, he converted $40,000 in funds belonging to a bankruptcy estate and disbursed over $230,000 in insurance proceeds to his client without disclosing the receipt or disbursement of those proceeds to the court. In another matter, he did not adequately communicate with his client and failed to research issues involved in his client's matter. In a third matter, he advanced non-meritorious claims and contentions, made false representations in a court filing, and made false statements to the Arizona State Bar during its investigation into his conduct. The Supreme Court of Illinois imposed reciprocal discipline and disbarred him.

Epworth, Iowa
Attorney Number: 1948059
Order entered: March 25, 2022
Mr. Moonen was licensed in Illinois in 1976 and in Iowa in 1997. The Supreme Court of Iowa reprimanded him for neglecting a client matter and failing to comply with Iowa disciplinary authorities' requests for information about his conduct. Mr. Moonen is currently suspended in Iowa on a separate case involving his failure to cooperate with Iowa disciplinary authorities' investigations. The Supreme Court of Illinois imposed reciprocal discipline and suspended him for five months and until he is reinstated to the practice of law in Iowa. The suspension is effective on April 15, 2022.

Boca Raton, Florida
Attorney Number: 2582716
Order entered: March 25, 2022
Mr. Sherman was licensed in Illinois in 1967 and in Florida in 1975. The Supreme Court of Florida permanently revoked his admission to the Florida Bar after he filed a petition for disciplinary revocation without leave to apply for readmission, which stated that he was the subject of a disciplinary grievance alleging, in part, misuse of funds totaling $4,175,000. Mr. Sherman agreed that there was factual predicate for disciplinary action against him. The Supreme Court of Illinois imposed reciprocal discipline and disbarred him.

Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Attorney Number: 6294769
Order entered: March 25, 2022
Mr. Willey was licensed in Illinois in 2008 and in Iowa in 1993. The Supreme Court of Iowa suspended him with no possibility for reinstatement for 30 days. In securing a $200,000 loan for a company that he and a client co-owned, the repayment of which that client personally guaranteed, he entered into a business transaction with a second client without disclosing the first client's financial liabilities and without obtaining the second client's informed consent. He also misrepresented his ownership interest in the company that was to receive the loan and withheld material details about the purpose of the loan. The Supreme Court of Illinois imposed reciprocal discipline and suspended him for thirty days. The suspension is effective on April 15, 2022.

Saint Louis, Missouri
Attorney Number: 6192401
Order entered: March 25, 2022
Mr. Tresslar was licensed in Missouri in 1985 and in Illinois in 1986. The Supreme Court of Missouri disbarred him for failing to diligently represent a client, failing to maintain complete records for his trust account, misappropriating more than $68,000 belonging to his clients, and making misrepresentations to a tribunal. The Supreme Court of Illinois imposed reciprocal discipline and disbarred him.

Joliet, Illinois
Attorney Number: 6276598
Order entered: March 25, 2022
Mr. Kosztya, who was licensed in 2002, was suspended for two years and until he completes the ARDC Professionalism Seminar, followed by a one-year term of probation with conditions. Mr. Kosztya dishonestly misappropriated over $58,000 from clients in two matters and then made false statements to the clients and a court to hide his use of the funds. The suspension is effective on April 15, 2022.

Libertyville, Illinois
Attorney Number: 6311410
Order entered: March 25, 2022
Mr. Szymanski, who was licensed in 2013, was suspended from the practice of law for two years and until further order of the Court. In 2016, Mr. Szymanski was arrested and charged with aggravated domestic battery and domestic battery arising from an incident in which he pushed his spouse against a wall and placed his hands around her throat, causing a partial obstruction of her breathing. Mr. Szymanski later pled guilty to misdemeanor battery in connection with that incident. In 2018, Mr. Szymanski again was arrested for an incident in which he punched his spouse in the arm and attempted to punch her in the stomach, for which he was charged with two counts of resisting a peace officer and two counts of domestic battery. Those charges were later dismissed. A suspension until further order of the Court is an indefinite suspension which requires the suspended lawyer to petition for reinstatement after the fixed period of suspension ends. Reinstatement is not automatic and must be allowed by the Supreme Court of Illinois following a hearing before the ARDC Hearing Board.

Chicago, Illinois
Attorney Number: 6237079
Order entered: March 25, 2022
Mr. Fonfrias, who was licensed in 1996, was suspended for six months. He failed to appear when required before the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Illinois, made false statements about appearing before the bankruptcy court in an affidavit and to a third person, and made false statements to the ARDC about drafting the affidavit. The suspension is effective on April 15, 2022.

Deerfield, Illinois
Attorney Number: 107263
Order entered: March 25, 2022
Mr. Banks, who was licensed in 1965, was suspended for two years and until further order of the Court and was required to demonstrate that he has paid $7,000 in restitution, plus interest, to his former client's sister prior to petitioning for reinstatement. While representing the client in a criminal matter, he did not respond to the client's family's requests for information about the case, collected an unreasonable fee of $9,000 when he made no court appearances and filed no pleadings or briefs, and returned only $2,000 of the fee. He also did not respond to an ARDC subpoena. A suspension until further order of the Court is an indefinite suspension which requires the suspended lawyer to petition for reinstatement after the fixed period of suspension ends. Reinstatement is not automatic and must be allowed by the Supreme Court of Illinois following a hearing before the ARDC Hearing Board.

Davenport, Iowa
Attorney Number: 6275268
Order entered: March 25, 2022
Ms. Kieffer was licensed in Illinois in 2001 and in Iowa in 2002. The Supreme Court of Iowa suspended her with no possibility for reinstatement for one year. While representing a client in a criminal matter, she falsified her client's signature on a written arraignment form and then made misrepresentations to the court about what she had done. The Supreme Court of Illinois imposed reciprocal discipline and suspended her for one year and until further order of the Court. A suspension until further order of the Court is an indefinite suspension which requires the suspended lawyer to petition for reinstatement after the fixed period of suspension ends. Reinstatement is not automatic and must be allowed by the Supreme Court of Illinois following a hearing before the ARDC Hearing Board.

Chicago, Illinois
Attorney Number: 6192433
Order entered: March 25, 2022
Mr. Tanzillo, who was licensed in 1986, was suspended for four months and was required to complete the ARDC Professionalism Seminar within one year of the order of discipline. He failed to properly communicate with his clients, waitresses who were the subject of charges that they had violated a local ordinance, and improperly represented the women despite a conflict of interest arising from his concurrent representation of the restaurant chain that employed them. The suspension is effective on April 15, 2022.

Sycamore, Illinois
Attorney Number: 6237386
Order entered: March 25, 2022
Mr. Johnson, who was licensed in 1996, was disbarred on consent. His misconduct arose from his August 2021 convictions of four counts of bankruptcy fraud and three counts of concealment of assets, for which he was sentenced to two years in prison.

Palatine, Illinois
Attorney Number: 6315173
Order entered: March 25, 2022
Ms. Allen, who was licensed in 2014, was suspended from the practice of law for one year and until further order of the Court. In 2019 and 2020, Ms. Allen failed to diligently pursue two related immigration matters and repeatedly misled her clients about the status of those matters. Ms. Allen was previously disciplined for nearly identical misconduct in 2018. A suspension until further order of the Court is an indefinite suspension which requires the suspended lawyer to petition for reinstatement after the fixed period of suspension ends. Reinstatement is not automatic and must be allowed by the Supreme Court of Illinois following a hearing before the ARDC Hearing Board.

Quincy, Illinois
Attorney Number: 6279961
Order entered: March 25, 2022
Ms. VanAusdall, who was licensed to practice in 2003, was suspended for one year. During a dissolution of marriage case, she came to an agreement with opposing counsel concerning parenting time, prepared a proposed order memorializing the agreement, and obtained opposing counsel's permission to submit the order to the trial judge for entry. Ms. VanAusdall then created a second proposed order that included provisions that had not been agreed upon and falsely assured the trial judge that opposing counsel had agreed to the order she was presenting. She was the subject of a misdemeanor charge of attempt forgery. The suspension is effective on April 15, 2022.

Chicago, Illinois
Attorney Number: 6270729
Order entered: March 18, 2022
Mr. Thompson, who was licensed in 1999, was suspended on an interim basis and until further order of the Court. He was found guilty following a jury trial of two charges of knowingly making false statements to a financial institution and five charges of tax fraud.

East Hampton, Connecticut
Attorney Number: 6190479
Order entered: January 20, 2022
Mr. Buhl was licensed in Illinois in 1985 and in Connecticut in 1987. In July 2017, the Superior Court for the Judicial District of Middlesex, Connecticut, suspended him until 1) he successfully completed a two-year period of probation in a criminal matter for operating a motor vehicle under the influence of liquor or drugs, and 2) he is reinstated to the practice of law in Connecticut, where was administratively suspended for failure to pay a mandatory Client Security Fund fee. The Superior Court later suspended Mr. Buhl for two years, retroactive to October 15, 2019, and required him to apply for reinstatement to the practice of law, for illegally operating a motor vehicle and failing to participate in his disciplinary proceedings. The Supreme Court of Illinois imposed reciprocal discipline and suspended him for two years and until he is reinstated to the practice of law in Connecticut. The suspension is effective on February 10, 2022.

Warrenville, Illinois
Attorney Number: 6288209
Order entered: January 20, 2022
Mr. Hankes, who was licensed in 2006, was suspended for three years and until he completes the ARDC Professionalism Seminar, for converting nearly $80,000 of client funds. He accomplished the conversion by reactivating a dormant client account at the law firm at which he was a shareholder, creating and sending multiple false invoices, directing payments to the formally dormant account, and submitting fraudulent reimbursement requests to his firm's accounting department. The suspension is effective on February 10, 2022.

Chicago, Illinois
Attorney Number: 6292086
Order entered: January 20, 2022
Mr. Wills, who was licensed in 2007, was suspended for one year and until further order of the Court, with the suspension stayed after five months in favor of a two-year period of conditional probation. In two cases, Mr. Wills failed to appear in court for clients, leading to the dismissal of the cases. He then made misrepresentations to the clients about the status of the lawsuits. The suspension is effective on February 10, 2022.

New Buffalo, Michigan
Attorney Number: 6208418
Order entered: January 20, 2022
Mr. Fitzgerald, who was licensed in 1991, was suspended for three years and until further order of the Court retroactive to his March 8, 2018 interim suspension from the practice of law. His misconduct arose from his Michigan criminal convictions for manufacturing marijuana, maintaining a drug house, and possession of marijuana with the intent to deliver. A suspension until further order of the Court is an indefinite suspension which requires the suspended lawyer to petition for reinstatement after the fixed period of suspension ends. Reinstatement is not automatic and must be allowed by the Supreme Court of Illinois following a hearing before the ARDC Hearing Board.

Chicago, Illinois
Attorney Number: 6228938
Order entered: January 20, 2022
Mr. Burr, who was licensed in 1995, was censured and required to complete the ARDC Professionalism Seminar within one year of the order of discipline. In a bankruptcy matter, he filed a declaration by his client that purported to certify that the client had reviewed certain schedules and statements when he knew the client had not reviewed them. He also provided a false itemization of some of his time to the bankruptcy trustee, who was seeking information to substantiate Mr. Burr's fees on the matter.

Libertyville, Illinois
Attorney Number: 6206975
Order entered: January 20, 2022
Mr. Hamill, who was licensed in 1991, was suspended for three years and until further order of the Court and until he makes restitution to his former client. He failed to act with reasonable diligence in seeking a patent application for a client, he ignored the client's attempts to reach him and then made false statements to the client about the status of her matter, he failed to return $2,975 in fees he had not earned, and he did not cooperate with a disciplinary investigation. A suspension until further order of the Court is an indefinite suspension which requires the suspended lawyer to petition for reinstatement after the fixed period of suspension ends. Reinstatement is not automatic and must be allowed by the Supreme Court of Illinois following a hearing before the ARDC Hearing Board.

Chicago, Illinois
Attorney Number: 6324093
Order entered: January 20, 2022
Mr. Hynes, who was licensed in 2016, was suspended for one year and until further order of the Court, with the suspension stayed after 90 days in favor of a three-year period of probation. He attempted to settle two cases without his clients' permission and made misrepresentations to a tribunal and opposing counsel about the status of the cases. The suspension is effective on February 10, 2022.

Corona, New York
Attorney Number: 6244355
Order entered: November 16, 2021
Mr. Benjamin was licensed in Illinois in 1998, and in both New York and New Jersey in 2000. In 2016, the Supreme Court of the State of New York, Appellate Division, suspended him for six months and until further order of the Court for misappropriating $6,250 in settlement funds and failing to promptly comply with his client's reasonable requests for information. After the New York court reinstated him to the practice of law in that State, the Supreme Court of New Jersey imposed reciprocal discipline and suspended him for six months. The Supreme Court of Illinois imposed reciprocal discipline and also suspended him for six months. The suspension is effective on December 7, 2021.

Allenhurst, New Jersey
Attorney Number: 6181830
Order entered: November 16, 2021
Mr. Bowe was licensed in Illinois in 1982 and in New Jersey in 1984. The Supreme Court of New Jersey issued an order prohibiting Mr. Bowe, whose New Jersey law license had been administratively suspended for failure to pay registration fees, from applying for reinstatement to the New Jersey bar for one year. Mr. Bowe had continued to practice law after the administrative suspension of his law license, and he did not maintain required trust account records. The Supreme Court of Illinois imposed reciprocal discipline and suspended him for one year and until he is reinstated to the practice of law in New Jersey. The suspension is effective on December 7, 2021.

East Troy, Wisconsin
Attorney Number: 3126702
Order entered: November 16, 2021
Mr. Hudec was licensed in Wisconsin in 1979 and in Illinois in 1980. Between 2007 and 2021, he was publicly reprimanded twice in Wisconsin, as well as suspended twice in Wisconsin for 60 days. A referee appointed by the Supreme Court of Wisconsin publicly reprimanded him for neglecting a client matter, failing to communicate with a client, and failing to cooperate in disciplinary investigations. The Supreme Court of Wisconsin 1) publicly reprimanded him for providing incompetent representation, engaging in action that served merely to harass or maliciously injure an opposing party, and engaging in an ex parte communication with a court; 2) suspended him for 60 days for neglecting two client matters, failing to communicate with those clients, and failing to make a reasonably diligent effort to comply with discovery requests; and 3) suspended him for 60 days for mishandling his trust account, and failing to cooperate with a disciplinary investigation. The Supreme Court of Illinois imposed reciprocal discipline, reprimanded him, and suspended him for 120 days. The suspension is effective on December 7, 2021.

Wauwatosa, Wisconsin
Attorney Number: 6204770
Order entered: November 16, 2021
Mr. Barrett was licensed in Illinois in 1990 and in Wisconsin in 1991. A referee appointed by the Supreme Court of Wisconsin publicly reprimanded him for possessing a firearm silencer in violation of Wisconsin Statutes. The Supreme Court of Illinois imposed reciprocal discipline and censured him.

Scottsdale, Arizona
Attorney Number: 6193941
Order entered: November 16, 2021
Ms. Sodaro was licensed in Illinois in 1986 and in Arizona in 2017. The Presiding Disciplinary Judge of the Supreme Court of Arizona suspended her for six months and one day. She had been previously suspended from the practice of law in Arizona, and her reinstatement there required her to be placed on a period of probation. She refused to agree to the terms of probation. The Supreme Court of Illinois imposed reciprocal discipline and suspended her for six months and until she is reinstated to the practice of law in Arizona. The suspension is effective on December 7, 2021.

St. Louis, Missouri
Attorney Number: 2092980
Order entered: November 16, 2021
Mr. Officer was licensed in both Missouri and Illinois in 1970. The Supreme Court of Missouri disbarred him for failing to perform services after accepting a fee, failing to properly hold client funds, failing to provide competent representation, and failing to cooperate in disciplinary investigations. The Supreme Court of Illinois imposed reciprocal discipline and disbarred him.

Springfield, Illinois
Attorney Number: 6284975
Order entered: November 16, 2021
Mr. Liles, who was licensed in 2005, was suspended from the practice of law for one year and until further order of the Court, with the suspension stayed after six months by a two-year period of probation. He neglected an incarcerated client's post-conviction matter and failed to communicate with that client. He also engaged in dishonest conduct by making false statements and providing false documents to the ARDC during the disciplinary investigation. The suspension is effective on December 7, 2021.

Country Club Hills, Illinois
Attorney Number: 6201090
Order entered: November 16, 2021
Ms. Doss, who was licensed in 1989, was disbarred on consent for dishonestly converting $8,767 in funds being held in trust for her client in a real estate transaction and for improperly withholding $3,875 in funds being held in trust for that same client. Ms. Doss claimed that amount was required to satisfy her legal fees, but her client disputed her entitlement to the fee.

Chicago, Illinois
Attorney Number: 6227145
Order entered: November 16, 2021
Mr. Smith, who was licensed in 1995, was suspended for three years and until further of the Court. He converted $25,000 belonging to a client in a probate matter, and he converted $5,947 belonging to another client in a domestic relations matter. A suspension until further order of the Court is an indefinite suspension which requires the suspended lawyer to petition for reinstatement after the fixed period of suspension ends. Reinstatement is not automatic and must be allowed by the Supreme Court of Illinois following a hearing before the ARDC Hearing Board.

Mokena, Illinois
Attorney Number: 6197947
Order entered: November 16, 2021
Mr. Jacoby, who was licensed in 1988, was disbarred on consent. In the course of representing a client, he failed to promptly turn over $43,601 in funds belonging to the client and third parties. Additionally, he used $13,313 of that $43,601 for his own purposes without his client's authority.

Central Point, Oregon
Attorney Number: 6303853
Order entered: November 16, 2021
Mr. Loprieno, who was licensed in 2010, was suspended for one year and until further order of the Court. In 2018, Mr. Loprieno fabricated documents that purported to show that another attorney had prepared documents that would have changed the terms of Mr. Loprieno's grandmother's estate plan, then falsely denied creating those documents in his initial response to the ARDC's request for information. A suspension until further order of the Court is an indefinite suspension which requires the suspended lawyer to petition for reinstatement after the fixed period of suspension ends. Reinstatement is not automatic and must be allowed by the Supreme Court of Illinois following a hearing before the ARDC Hearing Board.

Willow Springs, Illinois
Attorney Number: 6331196
Order entered: November 16, 2021
Mr. Mason, who licensed in 2019, was suspended from the practice of law for five months. He used his former firm's bank account information without permission to pay his attorney registration fees, and he made misrepresentations to the Administrator in writing and in his testimony at a sworn statement during the investigation of his conduct. The suspension is effective on December 7, 2021.

Edwardsville, Illinois
Attorney Number: 6285179
Order entered: November 16, 2021
Mr. Sivia, who was licensed in 2005, was censured and ordered to complete the ARDC Professionalism Seminar within one year of the entry of the Court's order. He engaged in a conflict of interest when he represented clients with adverse interests in a small-claims action, and he failed to explain the matter to one client to the extent reasonably necessary for that client to make informed decisions regarding the representation.

Galveston, Indiana
Attorney Number: 6306736
Order entered: September 23, 2021
Mr. Piatt was licensed in Illinois in 2011 and in Indiana in 2015. The Indiana Supreme Court suspended him for 180 days, with the suspension stayed after 90 days by a term of conditional probation of at least two years. His discipline arose from his multiple acts of public intoxication and operating a vehicle while intoxicated, and his failure to notify the Indiana disciplinary authority of one of his arrests for that conduct. The Supreme Court of Illinois imposed reciprocal discipline and suspended him for 180 days, with the suspension stayed after 90 days by a two-year period of probation, nunc pro tunc to January 14, 2021, subject to the conditions imposed in Indiana, and continuing until his probation in Indiana is terminated. The suspension is effective on October 14, 2021.

Crown Point, Indiana
Attorney Number: 6301648
Order entered: September 23, 2021
Ms. Kooi was licensed in Indiana in 2009 and in Illinois in 2010. The Indiana Supreme Court suspended her for 90 days, beginning November 23, 2020, with 30 days of that suspension to be actively served and the remainder stayed subject to completion of at least two years of conditional probation. Her discipline arose from her conviction for battery resulting in bodily injury for struggling and twice spitting on a police officer who had taken her to a hospital for a blood draw after stopping her on suspicion of impaired driving. The Supreme Court of Illinois imposed reciprocal discipline and suspended her for 90 days, with the suspension stayed after 30 days by a two-year period of probation, nunc pro tunc to November 23, 2020, subject to the conditions imposed in Indiana, and continuing until her probation in Indiana is terminated. The suspension is effective on October 14, 2021.

Scottsdale, Arizona
Attorney Number: 6201537
Order entered: September 23, 2021
Ms. Luther was licensed in Illinois in 1989 and in Arizona in 2004. The Chair of the Attorney Discipline Probable Cause Committee of the Supreme Court of Arizona admonished her and placed her on a two-year period of conditional probation. She did not provide legal services to a client after being paid to conduct a trademark search and review. She also did not communicate with clients about the status of their matters, inform her clients that she was closing her law practice, timely refund advanced fees that she had not earned, or safekeep client funds. The Supreme Court of Illinois imposed reciprocal discipline and reprimanded her and placed her on probation for two years, nunc pro tunc to January 23, 2020, subject to the conditions imposed by Arizona, and until she successfully completes her Arizona probation.

West Newton, Massachusetts
Attorney Number: 6309936
Order entered: September 23, 2021
Mr. Potere was licensed in Illinois in 2012 and in California in 2015. The Supreme Court of California disbarred him based on his attempt to extort more than $200,000 from his employer, which resulted in a misdemeanor conviction and five-month sentence of imprisonment for the federal criminal offense of unauthorized access to a computer to obtain information. The Supreme Court of Illinois imposed reciprocal discipline and entered an order disbarring him in Illinois.

Rockford, Illinois
Attorney Number: 6275102
Order entered: September 23, 2021
Ms. Koroll, who was licensed in 2001, was suspended for six months, with the suspension stayed after 60 days in favor of a one-year period of conditional probation. Over a period of approximately three weeks in 2015, she sent dozens of emails, text messages, and other communications to attorneys in Florida with whom she was then engaged in a dispute. Many of those messages were vulgar, profane, abusive, included anti-Semitic remarks, and served no purpose other than to harass or burden their recipients. Also, in 2013, she was disqualified from representing a party in a post-decree domestic relations case because her former law partner had been representing the man's spouse while they were members of the same firm. The suspension is effective on October 14, 2021.

San Ramon, California
Attorney Number: 6204151
Order entered: September 23, 2021
Ms. Edgar was licensed in Illinois in 1990 and in California in 2005. The California Supreme Court suspended her for one year, with the suspension stayed by a one-year period of probation subject to conditions. She employed a former California attorney who had resigned from the bar with disciplinary charges pending and permitted him to handle client funds over approximately an eight-month period. She also filed a brief on appeal in a client's immigration matter without complying with mandatory legal authority concerning claims of ineffective assistance of counsel. The Supreme Court of Illinois imposed reciprocal discipline and suspended her for one year, with the suspension stayed in its entirety by a one-year period of probation, nunc pro tunc to November 21, 2020, subject to the conditions imposed in California, and continuing until she completes her California probation.

Naperville, Illinois
Attorney Number: 6220289
Order entered: September 23, 2021
Mr. Cunningham, who was licensed in 1994, was suspended for six months. As the manager of his own law firm, Mr. Cunningham did not review his law firm accounts, nor did he know the source of funds in those accounts or how the funds were expended. His wife, a paralegal at the firm, fraudulently opened accounts in the law firm's name using names of relatives and then used funds from those accounts to pay for law firm and personal expenses. Also, in the course of the disciplinary investigation, Mr. Cunningham made false statements to the ARDC about his use of a credit card account set up by his wife. The suspension is effective on October 14, 2021.

Chicago, Illinois
Attorney Number: 6201259
Order entered: September 23, 2021
Mr. Groble, who was licensed in 1989, was suspended for two years and until further order of the Court. Over the course of five months, he misappropriated over $30,000 from a supplemental needs trust established for his disabled client. A suspension until further order of the Court is an indefinite suspension which requires the suspended lawyer to petition for reinstatement after the fixed period of suspension ends. Reinstatement is not automatic and must be allowed by the Supreme Court of Illinois following a hearing before the ARDC Hearing Board.

Chicago, Illinois
Attorney Number: 6210644
Order entered: September 23, 2021
Mr. Flangel, who was licensed in 1992, was disbarred on consent. In the course of representing clients in personal injury matters, he provided financial assistance to two clients, misrepresented the status of matters to at least two clients, and signed a client's name on a settlement release without authority.

Chicago, Illinois
Attorney Number: 6276013
Order entered: September 23, 2021
Mr. Stroth, who was licensed in 2001, was suspended for 30 days and ordered to take the ARDC's professionalism seminar. He failed to pursue a client's personal injury case, allowing the statute of limitations to expire. He also provided money to the client as a loan against an anticipated settlement and then as a purported settlement. He falsely told his client that he had communicated with an insurance claims adjuster, and he made false statements to the ARDC in the course of the disciplinary proceeding. The suspension is effective on October 14, 2021.

Queen Creek, Arizona
Attorney Number: 6210437
Order entered: September 23, 2021
Mr. Wittig was licensed in Illinois in 1992 and in Arizona in 1997. In two separate matters, Arizona disciplinary authorities disciplined Mr. Wittig. In a 2018 matter, he was admonished and placed on probation for two years for failing to notify a third party of his receipt of funds in which the third party had an interest and failing to distribute funds. In a 2019 matter, he was admonished for failing to distribute funds to a person owed the funds and not reasonably communicating with his client. The Supreme Court of Illinois imposed reciprocal discipline and censured him, as his Arizona probation had ended.

Kenosha, Wisconsin
Attorney Number: 6192651
Order entered: September 23, 2021
Mr. Ward was licensed in Illinois in 1986 and in Wisconsin in 1985. The Wisconsin Supreme Court publicly reprimanded him for failing to file a written motion seeking a change of venue as directed by his client in a visitation rights case, charging an unreasonable fee, and failing to refund the unearned portion of that fee after his client had terminated his services. In a separate disciplinary matter, a referee appointed by the Wisconsin Supreme Court issued a public reprimand against him for failing to promptly refund unearned fees to clients in two separate matters and mishandling client funds. The Supreme Court of Illinois imposed reciprocal discipline and censured him.

Lake Forest, Illinois
Attorney Number: 6186677
Order entered: September 23, 2021
Mr. Weber, who was licensed in 1984, was disbarred. His misconduct arose from his felony convictions in Florida for theft of sales tax. He operated a chain of restaurants in the Tampa Bay area and unlawfully withheld over $100,000 in sales tax that should have been remitted to the State of Florida. Mr. Weber did not participate in his Illinois disciplinary proceedings.

Tinley Park, Illinois
Attorney Number: 6207293
Order entered: September 23, 2021
Mr. McTighe, who was licensed in 1991, was disbarred on consent. He converted over $29,000 in client funds to his own use, falsely reported the status of cases and settlements to his clients, and neglected a number of insurance subrogation matters.

Naperville, Illinois
Attorney Number: 6279747
Order entered: September 23, 2021
Mr. Sanchez was licensed in Illinois in 2003 and in Missouri in 2010. The Supreme Court of Missouri suspended him indefinitely with no petition for reinstatement to be considered for six months for mishandling client funds and engaging in the unauthorized practice of law. The Supreme Court of Illinois imposed reciprocal discipline and suspended him for six months and until he is reinstated to the practice of law in Missouri. The suspension is effective on October 14, 2021.

Rock Island, Illinois
Attorney Number: 6271462
Order entered: September 23, 2021
Mr. Steckel, who was licensed in 2000, was disbarred on consent. His misconduct arose from his guilty pleas in two Rock Island County cases to charges of possession of a controlled substance and delivery of methamphetamine. The disbarment on consent was retroactive to Mr. Steckel's interim suspension from the practice of law on January 29, 2019.

Davenport, Iowa
Attorney Number: 6195728
Order entered: September 23, 2021
Mr. Fieweger was licensed in Illinois in 1987 and in Iowa in 1989. The Supreme Court of Iowa suspended him for 30 days for failing to communicate with a client, collecting an unauthorized fee in a Social Security disability benefits matter, neglecting a client's case, and mishandling client funds. The Supreme Court of Illinois imposed reciprocal discipline and suspended him for 30 days. The suspension is effective on October 14, 2021.

Aurora, Colorado
Attorney Number: 6300660
Order entered: September 23, 2021
Ms. Reyes was licensed in Illinois in 2009 and in Colorado in 2010. The Presiding Disciplinary Judge of the Supreme Court of Colorado suspended her for one year and one day, with the suspension stayed after six months by two years of probation, subject to certain conditions, for mishandling client funds, failing to communicate with clients, and failing to supervise a person working in her law firm. The Supreme Court of Illinois imposed reciprocal discipline and suspended her for one year and until further order of the Court, with the suspension stayed after six months by two years of probation, nunc pro tunc to March 19, 2019, subject to the conditions imposed in Colorado and continuing until her Colorado probation has ended. The suspension is effective on October 14, 2021.

Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Attorney Number: 1516914
Order entered: September 23, 2021
Mr. Kovac was licensed in both Illinois and Wisconsin in 1973. The Supreme Court of Wisconsin, in two disciplinary proceedings, imposed concurrent five-month suspensions for neglecting a client's matter, failing to return or forward client files in four matters, and failing to respond to demands for information from the Wisconsin Office of Lawyer Regulation in five investigations. The Supreme Court of Illinois imposed reciprocal discipline and suspended Mr. Kovac for five months. The suspension is effective on October 14, 2021.

Chicago, Illinois
Attorney Number: 6306880
Order entered: September 23, 2021
Mr. Rueda, who was licensed in 2011, was suspended from the practice of law for one year, with the suspension stayed after thirty days in favor of a two-year period of probation. Between March and May 2018, Mr. Rueda converted over $15,000 in four client matters due in part to his failure to keep appropriate trust account records. The suspension is effective on October 14, 2021.

Charleston, Illinois
Attorney Number: 6291212
Order entered: September 23, 2021
Mr. Pondenis, who was licensed in 2006, was suspended for one year and until further order of the Court. In electronic messages with a former client's girlfriend, he revealed information pertaining to his representation of that former client and made improper and abusive statements to the girlfriend. He also made improper and abusive statements to his landlord and the landlord's wife in electronic messages while representing himself in an eviction matter pertaining to his law office. A suspension until further order of the Court is an indefinite suspension which requires the suspended lawyer to petition for reinstatement after the fixed period of suspension ends. Reinstatement is not automatic and must be allowed by the Supreme Court of Illinois following a hearing before the ARDC Hearing Board.

Alpha, Illinois
Attorney Number: 6196349
Order entered: September 23, 2021
Mr. Kelly, who was licensed in 1987, was suspended for three months. Over the course of ten weeks, he knowingly misappropriated $2,230 in funds he had agreed to hold in escrow pursuant to his work as an attorney agent for a title company. No client lost money due to Mr. Kelly's misconduct. The suspension is effective on October 14, 2021.

Chicago, Illinois
Attorney Number: 236071
Order entered: September 23, 2021
Mr. Blumenfeld, who was licensed in 1967, was disbarred on consent. He converted over $67,000 in settlement funds belonging to a client and third parties in a workers' compensation matter. He also made a false statement to the ARDC during its investigation of his conduct.

Chicago, Illinois
Attorney Number: 6329724
Order entered: September 23, 2021
Ms. Gerstetter, who was licensed in 2018, was suspended for 60 days. While working as an associate at a law firm, she submitted false billing records totaling 86.4 hours, which resulted in one of the firm's clients being overbilled by $40,176. The law firm refunded the client's overpayment. The suspension is effective on October 14, 2021.

Chicago, Illinois
Attorney Number: 6301684
Order entered: September 23, 2021
Mr. Gordon, who was licensed in 2010, was suspended for one year and until further order of the Court, stayed after six months by a six-month period of conditional probation. Mr. Gordon failed to file a brief in his client's criminal appeal and did not refund the fees he received for the representation. He also made misrepresentations to the client, a third party, and the ARDC, which included fabricating a file-stamp to make it appear that he had filed the brief. The suspension is effective on October 14, 2021.

Bloomington, Illinois
Attorney Number: 6318517
Order entered: September 23, 2021
Ms. Jones, who was licensed in 2014, was suspended for nine months. She failed to act diligently on a client's domestic relations matter, failed to adequately communicate with the client, and filed a pleading in the case containing false statements. She also engaged in the unauthorized practice of law for approximately two months after having been removed from the roll of attorneys for failure to register, and she made false statements to the ARDC during its investigation of her case. The suspension is effective on October 14, 2021.

Chicago, Illinois
Attorney Number: 6330247
Order entered: September 23, 2021
Mr. Paleczny, who was licensed in 2018, was suspended for one year and until he completes the ARDC's professionalism seminar. As an associate at a Chicago law firm, he falsely billed over 2,000 hours of time to a pro bono matter that had ended, which resulted in his being terminated. Then, in the course of seeking other employment, Mr. Paleczny falsely told at least four prospective employers that he had been laid off from his prior firm. The suspension is effective on October 14, 2021.