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Articles Posted in Legal Ethics

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Davidson v. Gurewitz, NO. 2-15-0171: Illinois Appellate Court Affirms Dismissal of Legal Malpractice Claim

The Appellate Court of Illinois, Second District, recently affirmed the decision of a lower court, dismissing a legal malpractice action. In Davidson v. Gurewitz, a father sued an attorney, who had served as a Court appointed child representative in the father’s custody battle with the child’s mother. The mother was…

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In Re: Paul F. Coddington, Jr., LD-2015-0004: New Hampshire Attorney Disbarred for Practicing while Suspended

The New Hampshire Supreme Court recently disbarred an attorney, for practicing law while he was still serving a suspension for prior unethical conduct. In the Matter of Paul F Coddington, Jr, an attorney was suspended for professional misconduct and was subsequently hired by a law firm as a paralegal. The…

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In re: John Burke, No. 2013.280: Vermont Professional Responsibility Board Publicly Reprimands Attorney

The Vermont Professional Responsibility Board has ordered that an attorney receive a public reprimand for violating multiple Vermont Rules of Professional Conduct. In the matter of John Burke, the estate of a deceased Ohio man hired a Vermont attorney to assist in transferring property in Vermont owned by the decedent to…

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People v. Samuel Reyes Escamilla, No. 14PDJ047: Colorado Attorney Suspended Following Violations of Professional Rules of Conduct

The Office of the Presiding Disciplinary Judge, located in Denver, has suspended a Colorado attorney from practicing law, following an investigation by the Colorado Office of Attorney Regulation Counsel (“ARC”).  In People v. Samuel Reyes Escamilla, an attorney was disciplined as a result of his conduct in three separate client…

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In the Matter of Hawver, No. 111,425: Kansas Lawyer Disbarred for Inexplicable Incompetence

The Supreme Court of Kansas has disbarred an attorney for his conduct as defense counsel in a capital murder case. In the Matter of Hawver, a Kansas attorney represented a criminal defendant accused of murder, despite having no prior experience trying capital murder cases. He also did not associate with…

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In re Donna J. Tonderum, No. S-13-083: Attorney Indefinitely Suspended for Revealing Confidential Client Information

The Supreme Court of Nebraska has suspended an attorney for an indefinite term after finding that she disclosed confidential information about a client.  In re Donna J. Tonderum, a Nebraska attorney informed a prosecutor that she believed one of her former clients was guilty of a crime. The client had…

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In re Charles Tanner Phillips, II, No. 14-B-0714: Louisiana Lawyer Disbarred for Keeping Unearned Attorney’s Fees

The Supreme Court of Louisiana has disbarred an attorney after finding that he failed to refund unearned attorney’s fees to 26 clients.  In re Charles Tanner Phillips, II, a Louisiana attorney accepted and kept attorney’s fees from multiple clients, but did not perform any substantive legal work in return. One…

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In re Disciplinary Proceedings Against Kratz, No. 2014 WI 31: District Attorney Suspended for Sending Lewd Text Messages to a Crime Victim

The Supreme Court of Wisconsin has suspended an attorney after finding that he engaged in unethical conduct.  In re Disciplinary Proceedings Against Kratz, a Wisconsin district attorney met with the victim of domestic abuse to discuss the case, which he was prosecuting against her ex-boyfriend.  After the meeting, the attorney…

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In re Roger Lee Shoss, No. 51567: Attorney Disbarred After Conviction for Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud

The Texas Board of Disciplinary Appeals (“Board”) has disbarred an attorney after he was convicted of conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection with his operation of an investment scam.  In the Matter of Roger Lee Shoss, an attorney created fraudulent business entities using the names of corporation’s companies, which…

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In re Jennifer L. Graham, No. 49S00-1301-DI-36: Attorney put on Probation after Using Client Funds to Cover Gambling Debt

The Indiana Supreme Court has placed an attorney on probation, after finding that she withdrew unearned funds from her client trust account.  In the Matter of Jennifer L. Graham, an attorney wrote a check to herself from her client trust account in the amount of $1,100, and wrote the words…