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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowA Plymouth attorney has agreed with the Indiana Supreme Court Disciplinary Commission he violated Indiana Professional Conduct Rules while representing a client during a divorce case.
On Friday, the commission submitted for approval a “statement of circumstances and conditional agreement for discipline” with lawyer Edward R. Ruiz stipulating agreed facts and proposed discipline to the Indiana Supreme Court.
In the stipulated facts, the sides agreed that while Ruiz was representing a client during a divorce case he made several personal comments of a sexual nature that made the client uncomfortable. The client eventually brought her father to a meeting in which she fired Ruiz and demanded a refund. Ruiz then provided the client with $200 of the $1,500 she had paid.
In the order, the parties agreed that Ruiz violated the Indiana Professional Conduct Rules prohibiting the following misconduct:
- 1.7(a): Representing a client when the representation involves a concurrent conflict of interest.
- 8.4(d): Engaging in conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice.
The parties also agreed Ruiz violated Indiana Admission and Discipline Rule 22 (Oath of Attorneys) by acting in an offensive manner.
The parties proposed the appropriate discipline was a public reprimand, which the high court approved. Costs of the proceeding were also accepted against Ruiz.
The case is In the matter of: Edward R. Ruiz, 20S-DI-00374.
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