Disciplinary Actions – 4/27/11

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.

Resignation
Eric S. Crockett of Marion County has resigned from the practice of law in Indiana. In a Supreme Court order filed April 8, 2011, the court accepted Crockett’s resignation effective immediately. He is ineligible to petition for reinstatement to the practice of law for five years.

Reinstatement
Darren T. Cole of Cedar Hills, Utah, was reinstated to the practice of law in Indiana, effective immediately, in a Supreme Court order dated April 7, 2011. Cole was suspended in March for failure to satisfy costs ordered in connection with a lawyer discipline proceeding. He paid in full the amount owed along with a $200 reinstatement fee.

Paula G. Coody of Scott County received a public reprimand in a Supreme Court order filed April 8, 2011. Coody violated Indiana Professional Conduct Rule 1.3: Failure to act with reasonable diligence and promptness; 1.4(a)(3): Failure to keep a client reasonably informed about the status of a matter; and 1.4(a)(4): Failure to comply promptly with a client’s reasonable requests for information. Coody was retained by a personal representative to handle a decedent’s estate but failed to file a tax return for the estate or respond to the representative’s inquiries about the estate and its taxes. After a grievance was filed, Coody acknowledged the neglect, refunded her entire fee, and offered to close the estate as soon as possible, which has occurred.•