Justices reprimand 2 Indianapolis attorneys
Two Indianapolis attorneys have been reprimanded by the Indiana Supreme Court after they reached agreements with the disciplinary commission in their attorney ethics cases.
Attorney Discipline
Articles
Disciplinary commission discloses false statement in urging ex-prosecutor’s disbarment
A judge who recommended disbarment of the former Johnson County prosecutor for domestic violence has amended her report to the Indiana Supreme Court after being notified by a disciplinary commission attorney that he provided a false statement concerning key evidence.
Indiana attorney general may face bill over discipline case
Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill could face a big bill from the disciplinary case stemming from allegations that he groped a state lawmaker and three other women during a party. The disciplinary commission has asked the Indiana Supreme Court to order Hill to pay more than $50,000 in costs related to the ethics investigation that resulted in his 30-day suspension.
Hearing officer recommends dismissal of Mackey discipline case
The attorney discipline case accusing high-profile Barnes & Thornburg partner Larry Mackey of an improper relationship with the ex-wife of a former Fishers money manager client who was convicted of securities fraud should be dismissed, the hearing officer in his case has recommended.
Disbarment recommended for ex-Johnson County prosecutor
The former three-term elected prosecutor of Johnson County should be disbarred from the practice of law for a domestic violence assault in which the hearing officer in his attorney discipline case said he “severely beat and injured his girlfriend” then misled the public about the events surrounding the attack.
Bell & Grass: 3 things to know about attorneys’ social media
Because our parents (who have trouble with remote controls) are now officially on Facebook, we can safely assume that close to all attorneys are using social media. Using social media is simply an inexpensive and convenient way to get the word out about your law firm. However, there is an element of risk that comes along with an attorney’s use of social media. These risks were highlighted in July, when the Indiana Supreme Court Disciplinary Commission listed social media’s many “minefields.”
Louisville attorney suspended in Indiana
A Louisville attorney has been suspended from the practice of law in Indiana for noncooperation with a disciplinary investigation.
Ex-judge, assistant accused of estate fraud, will tampering face escalating claims
The stakes have been raised in a lawsuit against a former northern Indiana judge and an employee of his law office accused of swindling the estate of a deceased client whose will bequeathed more than $700,000 to local charities — money the charities say they never received.
Justices suspend mayor’s son following multiple alcohol arrests
A mayor’s son and lawyer who has been arrested five times for alcohol-related incidents has been suspended from the Indiana bar for at least one year.
Whitestown attorney suspended from practice of law for noncooperation
The Indiana Supreme Court has suspended a Whitestown lawyer from the practice of law for his noncooperation with the disciplinary commission.
AG Hill presses Holcomb to call special session focused on COVID-19
Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill is urging Gov. Eric Holcomb to call a special session of the Indiana General Assembly to focus on addressing the COVID-19 pandemic. Hill joins legislative Democrats who have also called for a special session to address the pandemic and potentially other issues.
Will missing in estate fraud suit against disgraced lawyer, assistant
The original will at the center of a six-figure estate fraud case is missing, according to recent court filings in a civil lawsuit. Charities alleging the law firm that handled the estate absconded with the money also have subpoenaed the Indiana Supreme Court Disciplinary Commission for records in the related ethics case that led to the recent resignation of attorney and one-time judge Robert Monfort.
Disciplinary Actions 08/05/20
Read who has resigned, been placed on probation or suspended from the practice of law in Indiana during the most recent reporting period.
Legal community mourns passing of long-time Floyd Co. prosecutor Henderson
Keith Henderson, who served as Floyd County prosecuting attorney for nearly 20 years, died Aug. 1 at his home surrounded by his family following a battle with Lyme disease. He was 59.
Indianapolis attorney convicted of OWI suspended for 90 days
An Indianapolis attorney has been suspended for 90 days with automatic reinstatement following his conviction of operating a vehicle while intoxicated and several violations of the Indiana Rules of Professional Conduct related to client representation.
Merrillville attorney’s discipline converted to indefinite suspension
Indiana Supreme Court justices have indefinitely suspended a Lake County lawyer who was suspended earlier this year for failing to cooperate with the disciplinary commission concerning a grievance against him.
Lawyer sentenced for theft from charity resigns from bar
An Indianapolis attorney has resigned from the bar rather than face a disciplinary proceeding a month after he was convicted of felony theft related to the misappropriation of funds from a charity that benefited Riley Children’s Hospital and a related business.
Ex-judge accused of trust theft, his lawyer sanctioned for bid to ‘mislead’ court
An ex-Indiana judge whose former law office is accused of stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from an estate he established that was meant to go to charity has been sanctioned — as has his defense attorney — after a judge ruled they made false statements and attempted to mislead the court in the charity’s civil lawsuit.
AG Hill pledges support to ‘conservative principles’ after convention defeat
In the aftermath of a convention defeat that will keep him from serving a second term in office, Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill is vowing to “continue to support and fight for our conservative principles.” Hill, however, did not explicitly endorse Republican AG nominee Todd Rokita.
Disciplinary commission warns of social media slip-ups that can violate rules
Lawyers must proactively police and amend their social media pages to ensure third-party comments don’t break ethical rules, a new advisory opinion from the Indiana Supreme Court Disciplinary Commission says.