Discipinary Actions – 9/7/16

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.

Suspension
Darcie L. Campanella, of Porter County, has been suspended for at least 30 days without automatic reinstatement, beginning Sept. 28. Finds she violated Professional Conduct Rules 1.1 and 8.4(d) with respect to representing clients in a small claim action and another client in a lawsuit arising from the trade-in of a used vehicle. Orders Campanella to pay one-half of the costs and expenses of the proceeding as well as a $250 fee. The disciplinary commission had also charged her with violations of Rules 3.1, 3.3(a) and 3.4(d), but the hearing officer found her conduct did not violate those rules as charged.

James A. Shoaf, of Bartholomew County, has been suspended for 60 days, beginning Oct. 6. Shoaf, who was a contracted public defender in Bartholomew Superior Court, failed to advance the appeals in three cases, resulting in dismissal of the appeals. In at least two of these appeals, he had received partial payment from the county. In the third appeal, he told the client the case had been dismissed due to a “technicality.” He violated Indiana Professional Conduct Rules 1.3, 1.4(a)(3) and 1.4(b).

Samuel G. Vazanellis, of Lake County, has been suspended from practice for noncooperation with the disciplinary commission, effective Aug. 25. He is also ordered to pay $526.84 for the costs of prosecuting this proceeding.

Edward L. Harris III, of Hamilton County, has been suspended from practice for noncooperation with the disciplinary commission, effective Aug. 25. He is also ordered to pay $526.96 for the costs of the proceeding.

Benjamin T. Caughey, of Marion County, has been suspended for violating his probation after pleading guilty to operating a vehicle while intoxicated endangering a person with a prior conviction within five years, a Level 6 felony to be entered as a Class A misdemeanor. He has twice violated his probation by consuming alcohol, leading to a five-day jail sentence and revocation of his probation. Caughey’s suspension began Aug. 7, with 90 days actively served and the remainder of the two-year suspension stayed subject to completion of two years of probation with JLAP monitoring. The costs of the proceeding are assessed against him.•