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.

In re James P. Ginzkey, Matter Number: 2021PR00031

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.

In re Michael H. Hamilton, Matter Number: 2022PR00084

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.

In re Michael Anthony Manges, Matter Number: 2022PR00027

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.

In re Brandon James McNulty, Matter Number: 2022PR00064

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.

In re Justin Koslan Schwartz, Matter Number: 2022PR00030

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.

In re Maureen Williams, Matter Number: 2021PR00032

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.

In re Daniel Edward Morgan, Matter Number: 2023PR00001

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.

In re Cass Thomas Casper, Matter Number: 2022PR00024

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.

In re Lee Alan Campbell, Matter Number: 2022PR00076

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.

In re Stephen Ray Wigginton, Matter Number: 2021PR00097

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.

In re Richard Lane Steagall, Matter Number: 2022PR00043

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.

In re Neil Alan Spector, Matter Number: 2022PR00078

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.

In re Daniel Gordon Parsons, Matter Number: 2021PR00103

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.

In re Hassan Ali Abbas, Matter Number: 2022PR00083

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.

In re Nejla K. Lane, Matter Number: 2019PR00074

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.

In re Tradd Ashton Fromme, Matter Number: 2021PR00072

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.

In re David Kyle Cooper, Matter Number: 2021PR00082

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.

In re Hedwig Sarnicki, Matter Number: 2022PR00041

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.

In re Mauricio Boris Andres Araujo, Matter Number: 2022PR00026

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.

In re David Louis Bartelsmeyer, Matter Number: 2022PR00021

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.

In re Margaret Jean Lowery, Matter Number: 2020PR00018

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.

In re Russell John Luchtenburg, Matter Number: 2022PR00025

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.

In re India Noelle Winbush, Matter Number: 2022PR00015

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.

In re Nicole Lynn Beran, Matter Number: 2021PR00076

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.

In re Timothy Paul Peterson, Matter Number: 2022PR00068

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.

In re David Hall, Matter Number: 2022PR00077

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.

In re Robert James Semrad, Matter Number: 2021PR00044

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.

In re Helga Kahr, Matter Number: 2022PR00082

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.

In re Rebecca Suzanne Murray, Matter Number: 2021PR00077

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.

In re Christopher Robert Emerald, Matter Number: 2021PR00085

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.

In re Ronald Richard Duebbert, Matter Number: 2020PR00034

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.

In re Barbara Ann Susman, Matter Number: 2018PR00080

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.

In re Alison Marie Yohanna, Matter Number: 2022PR00049

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.

In re Blake Erin Stone, Matter Number: 2022PR00075

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.

In re John Paul Kolb, Matter Number: 2022PR00039

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.

In re Ashmit S. Patel, Matter Number: 2022PR00065

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.

In re Richard Michael Ruggiero, Matter Number: 2021PR00078

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.

In re Robert Edward Lewin, Matter Number: 2021PR00074

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.

In re Richard William Gannett, Matter Number: 2021PR00092

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.

In re Jeffrey Allen McIntyre, Matter Number: 2021PR00018

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.

In re Mark Edward McNabola, Matter Number: 2018PR00083

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.

In re Andrew Dag Babcock, Matter Number: 2022PR00037

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.

In re Philip Edwin Koenig, Matter Number: 2020PR00076

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.

In re Sidney Boyston Smith, Matter Number: 2021PR00048

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.

In re Jeffrey Gerald Kendall, Matter Number: 2021PR00040

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.

In re Robert Earl Schulz, Matter Number: 2022PR00044

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.

In re Brian Keith Sides, Matter Number: 2020PR00047

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.

In re Douglas Ellis Miles, Matter Number: 2022PR00051

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.

In re Soon Mo Ahn, Matter Number: 2020PR00045

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.

In re Patricia Novak McCloskey, Matter Number: 2022PR00052

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.

In re Heather Lynn Biagi, Matter Number: 2021PR00101

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.

In re Stephen W. Newport, Matter Number: 2022PR00054

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.

In re Elizabeth Diane Tate, Matter Number: 2022PR00057

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.

In re Robert Alan Roth, Matter Number: 2022PR00055

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.

In re Stevan Krkljes, Matter Number: 2022PR00028

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.

In re Kevin P. McCarty, Matter Number: 2022PR00020

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.

In re Felipe Nery Gomez, Matter Number: 2020PR00064

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.

In re Mark Thomas Mc Closkey, Matter Number: 2022PR00058

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.

In re Jessica Arong O'Brien, Matter Number: 2018PR00111

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.

In re Carlo P. Palladinetti, Matter Number: 2020PR00083

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.

In re Matthew Ryan McCormick, Matter Number: 2021PR00098

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.

In re Mark Doyle Easley II, Matter Number: 2022PR00010

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.

In re Dale B. Halling, Matter Number: 2022PR00011

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.

In re Valarie Pope Franklin, Matter Number: 2019PR00068

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.

In re Marc Ericson Darnell, Matter Number: 2022PR00012

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.

In re John Russell McCulloh, Matter Number: 2021PR00071

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.

In re Mahdis Azimi, Matter Number: 2021PR00017

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.

In re James Russell Leone, Matter Number: 2022PR00023

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.

In re Andres Ybarra, Matter Number: 2021PR00019

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.

In re Michael John Ries, Matter Number: 2021PR00090

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.

In re Beau J. White, Matter Number: 2021PR00062

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.

In re Dean William O'Connor, Matter Number: 2021PR00088

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.

In re Donald F. Moonen Jr., Matter Number: 2021PR00089

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.

In re Craig Barry Sherman, Matter Number: 2021PR00095

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.

In re Bruce Allen Willey, Matter Number: 2021PR00096

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.

In re John Eric Tresslar, Matter Number: 2021PR00100

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.

In re Ryan S. Kosztya, Matter Number: 2018PR00113

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.

In re Jaroslaw Arkadiusz Szymanski, Matter Number: 2021PR00053

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.

In re Richard George Fonfrias, Matter Number: 2021PR00049

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.

In re Sheldon Lee Banks, Matter Number: 2020PR00068

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.

In re Lori Jo Kieffer, Matter Number: 2022PR00005

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.

In re Paul Anthony Tanzillo, Matter Number: 2020PR00056

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.

In re K.O. Johnson, Matter Number: 2022PR00007

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.

In re Jessica Rose Allen, Matter Number: 2021PR00055

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.

In re Roni S. VanAusdall, Matter Number: 2021PR00039

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.

In re Patrick Daley Thompson, Matter Number: 2022PR00014

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.

In re Paul D. Buhl, Matter Number: 2021PR00075

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.

In re Robert John Hankes, Matter Number: 2019PR00102

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.

In re Brent Michael Wills, Matter Number: 2021PR00021

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.

In re Timothy J. Fitzgerald, Matter Number: 2017PR00116

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.

In re Michael Christopher Burr, Matter Number: 2021PR00004

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.

In re Mark A. Hamill, Matter Number: 2021PR00016

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.

In re Edward William Hynes, Matter Number: 2021PR00065

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.

In re Jeffrey Marc Benjamin, Matter Number: 2021PR00052

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.

In re William John Bowe, Matter Number: 2021PR00058

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.

In re Patrick Jon Hudec, Matter Number: 2021PR00060

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.

In re Thomas Michael Barrett, Matter Number: 2021PR00064

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.

In re Jennifer Prager Sodaro, Matter Number: 2021PR00066

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.

In re Robert Lee Officer, Matter Number: 2021PR00068

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.

In re Sean Michael Liles, Matter Number: 2020PR00022

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.

In re Leijuana Doss, Matter Number: 2021PR00022

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.

In re Wanemond Smith, Matter Number: 2020PR00089

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.

In re John P. Jacoby, Matter Number: 2021PR00067

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.

In re Michael Leonard Loprieno, Matter Number: 2019PR00101

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.

In re James Robert Mason, Matter Number: 2021PR00045

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.

In re Todd William Sivia, Matter Number: 2021PR00015

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.