Subscriber Benefit
As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowThe Indiana Supreme Court privately reprimanded an Evansville attorney Friday after he failed to act with reasonable diligence and promptness in communicating with clients whose homestead was burned in an act of vandalism that appeared to be racially motivated.
The order approving John Goodridge’s discipline was signed by Chief Justice Loretta Rush Sept. 14, according to the court order.
A complaint filed in Feb. 2018 alleged Goodridge had failed to act with reasonable diligence and promptness on behalf of family members who owned the homestead who reached out to him and another attorney for representation concerning the homestead, possible recovery, and the failure of a mortgagor to pay for repairs to the home.
Goodridge allegedly only made six communications with clients between February 2013 and January 2015, in violation of Rule of Professional Conduct 1.3, the complaint said. During that time, Goodridge did not send any letters or other correspondence to the additional clients in the case, the bank or anyone on behalf of the clients.
The complaint also says Goodridge had no contact with the clients between Jan. 2015 and May 2016 before he was required to withdraw from the case due to conflicts of interest after a rift between the clients.
The Supreme Court imposed a private reprimand against Goodridge and assessed the costs of the proceedings against him.
Please enable JavaScript to view this content.