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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowTwo Northern Indiana attorneys have received stayed suspensions stemming from their individual attorney misconduct, the Indiana Supreme Court ordered on Thursday. Both attorneys acknowledged that they mismanaged trust accounts and comingled client funds.
The Indiana Supreme Court on Thursday suspended Chesterton attorney Anthony Tavitas for 90 days, stayed subject to completion of at least one year of probation.
Tavitas, the Supreme Court’s order says, mismanaged his trust accounts from 2016 through 2018. Among other things, Tavitas maintained inadequate records, commingled client funds with personal and business funds, and regularly paid personal and business expenses from his trust account.
In one instance, the order says that Tavitas neglected to timely disburse settlement proceeds to a client. He also failed to keep executed copies of fee agreements in personal injury cases he handled.
The parties agreed that Tavitas violated the following Indiana Rules of Professional Conduct:
- 1.15(a)
- 1.15(b)
- 1.15(d)
- 23(29)(a)(5)
- 23(29)(a)(1)
- 23(29)(a)(4)
- 23(29)(a)(7)
- 23(29)(c)(2)
- 23(29)(c)(7)
Separately, attorney Robin Remley of Crown Point was suspended from the practice of law in Indiana for 90 days, all stayed subject to completion of at least 18 months of probation.
The Supreme Court’s order for Remley states that she mismanaged her attorney trust accounts from 2014 through 2018 by failing to keep adequate records, commingling client and attorney funds, making improper disbursements and electronic transfers and paying personal and business expenses directly from her attorney trust account.
The parties agreed that Remley violated the following Indiana Professional Conduct Rules:
- 1.15(a)
- 1.15(b)
- 23(29)(a)(5)
- 23(29)(a)(1)
- 23(29)(a)(2)
- 23(29)(a)(3)
- 23(29)(a)(6)
- 23(29)(a)(7)
- 23(29)(c)(2)
- 23(29)(c)(7)
Neither Tavitas nor Remley has prior discipline, the orders say. The Supreme Court specifically noted that both attorneys cooperated with the disciplinary process and have taken several proactive steps to address factors contributing to their misconduct. The costs of the proceedings are assessed against them.
The cases are In the Matter of: Anthony F. Tavitas, 20S-DI-335 and In the Matter of: Robin G. Remley, 20S-DI-93.
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