Insight: If you believe that your wife is having an affair with her lawyer you may report him to your state’s attorney disciplinary committee. Most states have adopted some form of American Bar Association Model Rules of Professional Conduct Rule 1.7 (a) (2), which states that a lawyer should not…
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…
Insight: Unless it would have some impact on your case, your attorney is not obligated to notify you of his pending disciplinary proceedings. You are always entitled to terminate your attorney’s services and hire another lawyer. However, if you choose to do so, you likely will not be reimbursed for…
Insight: Most states have adopted some form of Model Rule of Professional Conduct 1.4, which requires attorneys to keep clients reasonably informed about the status of their legal matter and make timely responses to client’s requests for information. The rule also obligates attorneys to provide sufficient information to clients, so that…
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…
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…
Insight: You should contact the Commission on Judicial Conduct for your state. Each state has a different process for submitting a complaint, but a written submission describing the ethical violations accompanied by supporting evidence is usually required. If the Commission believes that the judge has committed an ethical violation, it…
The Florida Supreme Court has entered a judgment suspending an attorney for three years, after finding that he violated the Florida Rules of Professional Conduct. In Florida Bar v. Bruce Edward Committe, an attorney filed a lawsuit on behalf of a client against a defendant, alleging that he maliciously interfered with…
The Michigan Supreme Court has removed and conditionally suspended a judge after ruling that he violated the Code of Judicial Conduct. In the matter of Wade H. McCree, a judge was presiding over a case regarding the nonpayment of child support. While the case was ongoing, he began a sexual…
Insight: You should begin by researching the statutes of limitations on legal malpractice claims in your state. In Massachusetts, the statute of limitations on a legal malpractice claim must be filed within three years. However, Massachusetts, like many jurisdictions, follow the so called discovery rule in some jurisdictions, including Massachusetts,…