Suspended Warsaw attorney disbarred following theft, fraud conviction
A northern Indiana lawyer who was indefinitely suspended in March after he pleaded guilty to multiple felony theft charges was disbarred Wednesday by the Indiana Supreme Court.
Indiana Rules of Professional Conduct
Articles
Disciplinary Actions
Read who has been reinstated, resigned or suspended from the practice of law in the most recent reporting period.
Case against Indy attorney to proceed after client wins reversal
An Indianapolis attorney being sued by a former client in a post-conviction relief case faced a reversal Monday after the Indiana Court of Appeals found that the client’s complaint alleging violations of certain canons of the Rules of Professional Conduct did not deprive the trial court of jurisdiction over the case.
Bell and Grass: 3 things: The ethics of working from home
Moving your office into your home can pose unique ethical concerns you may not have considered. James Bell and Stephanie Grass discuss three things you need to know about the ethics of working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Johnson County lawyer suspended over trust account mismanagement
A 45-year attorney in Johnson County will be suspended briefly and then subject to a probationary period for improper oversight and management of his small firm’s trust accounts, the Indiana Supreme Court has ordered.
Noblesville lawyer suspended, ordered to JLAP probation
A Noblesville attorney has been suspended from the practice of law with two years of probation monitored by the Judges and Lawyers Assistance Program after failing to inform and refund several clients, among other things.
Connersville attorney disbarred for ‘criminal and dishonest’ conduct
A Connersville attorney accused of using client funds to pay for her children’s school tuition and of repeatedly making false assertions to the Disciplinary Commission, among numerous other “criminal and dishonest” acts, has been disbarred.
New Albany lawyer agrees to probation, will pay $15K for shoddy accounting
A southern Indiana lawyer who for a decade mismanaged his firm’s trust accounts has agreed to a probationary period of at least three years, staying a nearly six-month suspension, under terms of an attorney discipline agreement approved Wednesday by the Indiana Supreme Court. The attorney also agreed to pay more than $15,000 in costs to the disciplinary commission and court.
Justices reprimand lawyer who failed to file appeal
A suspended Fort Wayne attorney who previously failed to timely file a client’s appeal with a federal agency, ultimately leading to the claim’s dismissal after another attorney unsuccessfully tried to remedy the timeliness issue, has been publicly reprimanded by the Indiana Supreme Court.
Justices amend rules of judicial conduct, bar admission
Several amendments to various Indiana rules made by the Indiana Supreme Court were introduced announced in orders issued Thursday.
Indiana Legislature seeks to separate from AG in sexual harassment lawsuit
The Indiana House of Representatives and the Indiana Senate have filed separate motions in federal court to represent themselves in the sexual harassment lawsuit against Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill Jr., claiming the state’s top lawyer cannot adequately defend their interests. Majority leaders of both the House and Senate announced late Monday afternoon they had hired outside counsel and are trying to intervene in the litigation brought by four women against Hill and the state of Indiana.
Bell: 3 things to know about making ‘bad mistakes’
I have known some lawyers who have never made a mistake before, and if you give them a chance, they’ll tell you how infallible they are. But what about the rest of us who sometimes don’t live up to our own expectations?
Longtime Warsaw attorney resigns amid misconduct allegations
A Warsaw attorney with nearly 50 years’ experience has resigned from the Indiana bar after facing an investigation by the Indiana Supreme Court Disciplinary Commission.
Bad business: Disciplinary Commission warns of ‘license rentals’
The Indiana Supreme Court Disciplinary Commission addressed such questionable relationships in an advisory opinion that cautions Hoosier attorneys against “license rental” partnerships with out-of-state law firms or non-lawyer service groups. Through these partnerships, Hoosier attorneys lend their services to the out-of-state firm or non-lawyer group in exchange for a fee paid for limited client representation in Indiana.
Attorney convicted of cocaine charge suspended 3 years
A Marion attorney already under interim and administrative suspensions has been suspended from the practice of law for at least three years for professional misconduct, including her continual abuse of cocaine.
Professor: Regulation of lawyer speech undermines judiciary
Legal professionals work within the Rules of Professional Conduct, so they don’t want to make any comments that might be perceived as unduly critical of others in the profession — a profession built largely on respect and civility. But according to an Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law professor, the unease surrounding Rule 8.2(a) is not a matter of respect, but rather a matter of lawyer fear.
Florida-based attorney disbarred for 12 rule violations
A Florida-based attorney who was found to have violated a dozen of Indiana’s professional conduct rules has lost his Indiana law license, effective immediately. The Indiana Supreme Court found the lawyer’s dishonesty and neglect of cases had harmed clients and placed himself and others in legal peril.
Prosecutors cite ethics rules to Hill in abortion lawsuit
Three Indiana prosecutors are renewing their calls for Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill to concede on their behalf the merits of lawsuit that blocked a 2018 abortion law and told the AG's staff in an email that Hill is obligated under the Indiana Rules of Professional Conduct to follow their directive as his clients. Hill, however, maintains he is authorized to defend the statute on behalf of his "ultimate client:" the people of Indiana.
Corrected exhibit slipped by COA; ‘disregard’ admonishment
The Indiana Court of Appeals, which issued a stern warning to defendants about misrepresenting their case, acknowledged an amended exhibit had been given to the trial court. While reaffirming its earlier decision, the panel noted that a harshly worded footnote criticizing defense counsel in the personal injury case "is to be disregarded."
Hill vows to stay in office, demands investigation into groping allegations
Amid allegations of sexual misconduct against an Indiana lawmaker and growing calls for his resignation, Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill vowed again Friday to stay put. Meanwhile, a Statehouse rally is planned for Saturday “to support victims of Curtis Hill.”