Disciplinary Actions – 12/3/14

The Indiana Supreme Court Disciplinary Commission brings charges against attorneys who have violated the state’s rules for admission to the bar and Rules of Professional Conduct. The Indiana Commission on Judicial Qualifications brings charges against judges, judicial officers, or judicial candidates for misconduct. Details of attorneys’ and judges’ actions for which they are being disciplined by the Supreme Court will be included unless they are not a matter of public record under the court’s rules.

Public reprimand
J. Frank Hanley II, of Marion County, has been publicly reprimanded by the Indiana Supreme Court in a Nov. 6 order. The justices found that Hanley violated Indiana Professional Conduct Rules 1.4(b) and 5.6(a) after he fired an associate in his firm and sent letters to that attorney’s clients to complete so that Hanley could take over as their attorney. Hanley made the associate sign a noncompete agreement in which the attorney would not practice Social Security disability law for two years after his employment was terminated; Hanley fired the associate in 2013, but never enforced the noncompete agreement. He did provide the associate with the files of the clients who decided to remain with the associate.•