What happens when a lawyer is crooked? - Chicago's Real Law Blog

Saw this in the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin recently.  It's a summary of discipline against unethical attorneys.  A lot of people believe that a lawyer can't lose their license, especially since in Illinois lawyers police lawyers.  But the reality is that while there are many scummy attorneys walking our streets, many do get in trouble as you can see for yourself at www.iardc.org.  Per this article, 11 attorneys just lost their license and 33 more were suspended.  Hopefully none of them were your lawyer.

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The Illinois Supreme Court has disbarred lawyer Lawrence S. Wick, who billed more than $1 million to two corporate clients without performing any work.

In addition, the Supreme Court in orders entered recently also disbarred another 10 lawyers, suspended 33 and censured four.

Wick, now listing a Florida post office box as his address, formerly worked as a partner at Wildman, Harrold, Allen & Dixon LLP in Chicago and focused his practice on intellectual property law. M.R. 23942.

Following an internal investigation into Wick's billings of the two clients, the Wildman, Harrold firm refunded about $945,000 and forgave a client's outstanding bills of $350,000, according to an Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission Review Board report in Wick's case.

The high court also disbarred the following lawyers:

• Joseph P. Collins of Chicago on consent following the former Mayer, Brown LLP partner's federal conviction on conspiracy and four other charges in a $2.4 billion fraud at the former commodities brokerage giant Refco Inc. M.R. 24032.

• William C. Chesbrough of Elgin for misappropriating in excess of $113,000 that he was holding related to a client's deceased mother's estate. M.R. 23991.

• Alan S. Cohen of St. Louis on a reciprocal basis for failing to maintain a client trust account and for using client and third-party funds to pay for office and personal expenses. M.R. 24053.

• C. Wayne K. Davis of St. Louis on a reciprocal basis following his felony conviction in Missouri for misappropriating at least $25,000 from his employer. M.R. 23873.

• Kelly C. Garland of Chicago on consent for creating false orders and affidavits in five different divorce cases in an attempt to conceal from her clients the actual status of their cases. M.R. 23897.

• Thaddeus J. Hunt of Chicago for abandoning his law practice, misappropriating $10,275 in client funds and neglecting seven client matters. M.R. 23937.

• Brainerd W. LaTourette III of St. Louis on a reciprocal basis for disobeying a court order, engaging in the unauthorized practice of law and other misconduct. M.R. 23955,

• James A. Reskin of Louisville, Ky., on consent following his federal conviction on charges of obstructing a criminal investigation by making false statements to federal investigators. M.R. 23982.

• Kenneth A. Runes of Mount Prospect for misappropriating more than $13,000 in client funds and engaging in other misconduct. M.R. 23950.

• Bradford T. Yaker of Bingham Farms, Mich., on a reciprocal basis for falsely claiming that he reached a settlement on a securities claim and giving the client a fictitious settlement agreement providing for a $30,000 payment. M.R. 23980.

The justices also suspended the following:

• Gilda V. Amini of Chicago for six months. M.R. 23916.

• Richard I. Bass of Chicago for 90 days. M.R. 23884.

• James R. Carey of Chicago for 30 days. M.R. 23891.

• Peter R. Coladarci of Chicago for three months. M.R. 23909.

• Wes Cowell of Chicago for three years and until further court order with the suspension stayed after 18 months followed by a probationary period with conditions. M.R. 24063.

• Theodore R. Diaz of Alton for one year and until further court order. M.R. 24041.

• George R. Flynn of Bloomington for three years and until further court order with the suspension stayed following 18 months by two years' probation with conditions. M.R. 24047.

• Nicholas L. Gerren Jr. of Dayton, Ohio, for 18 months on a reciprocal basis. M.R. 23875.

• Daniel S. Gradows of Chicago for one year and until further court order and until he makes certain restitution. M.R. 24033.

• Melvin H. Hoffman of Ottawa for six months and until further court order. M.R. 24030.

• Theresa L. Jones of Geneseo for one year. M.R. 23856.

• Robert R. Jung of Phoenix for eight months on a reciprocal basis and until his law license is reinstated in Arizona. M.R. 23944.

• Ravi Kanwal of Denver for one year and one day on a reciprocal basis and until his law license is reinstated in Colorado. M.R. 23912.

• Brian E. King of Champaign for nine months, until he makes certain restitution and attends and successfully completes the professionalism seminar of the Illinois Professional Responsibility Institute. M.R. 24009.

• Christian L. Kline of Chicago for three months and until he attends and successfully finishes the professional seminar by the Illinois Responsibility Institute. M.R. 24036.

• David M. Laz of Lisle for one year and until further court order. M.R. 23831.

• Robert S. Luce of Rolling Meadows for five months. M.R. 24074.

• Mark Maciasz of LaGrange for one year. M.R. 23960.

• Beverly B. Mann of South Lyon, Mich., for two years and until further court order. M.R. 23935.

• Chad M. Manuel of Chicago for one year and until further court order. M.R. 23959.

• Baltazar Mendoza of Chicago for 30 days and must attend and successfully complete the Illinois Professional Responsibility Institute's professionalism seminar. M.R. 24062.

• Patrick J. O'Malley Jr. of Palos Park for six months and until further court order, with the suspension stayed entirely by two years' probation with conditions. M.R. 23981.

• Sue E. Radulovich of Grosse Pointe, Mich., for 120 days on a reciprocal basis. M.R. 23885.

• Steven R. Robertson of Aurora for two years and until further court order. M.R. 23933.

• Edward E. Robinson of Chicago for six months and until further court order. M.R. 23845.

• James J. Romberg of Palatine for three months and until further court order with the suspension stayed entirely by a one-year probationary period with conditions. M.R. 23898.

• Chad W. Sabora of Chicago for 18 months and until further court order. M.R. 23951.

• Richard C. Sklare of Chicago for one year and until further court order, stayed after 90 days by two years' probation subject to conditions. M.R. 23995.

• Michael J. Smith of Wabash, Ind., on a reciprocal basis for one year and until his law license is reinstated in Indiana. M.R. 23874.

• Terry L. Stranke of Cleveland for six months on a reciprocal basis. M.R. 23872.

• Howard E. Towles of South Holland for one year and until further court order. M.R. 23860.

• Timothy J. Walsh of Palatine for two years and until further court order, stayed after five months by three years' probation with conditions. M.R. 23953.

• David M. Wise of Cleveland on a reciprocal basis for one year and until his law license is reinstated in Ohio. M.R. 23869.

Most of the suspensions take effect during the second week of October.

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Today's legal tip is from Bolingbrook attorney Jason Marker: A pre-existing condition does not absolutely deny benefits in a workers' compensation case. Under the law, if a person aggravates or accelerates his/her condition (even slightly) due to the work event, they are entitled to compensation.