Disciplinary Actions – 12/21/12

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
Jacob P. Dunnuck, of Delaware County, has been suspended by the Indiana Supreme Court for violating Ind. Professional Conduct Rule 1.15(a), which prohibits failure to hold property of a client separate from lawyer’s own property. In 2010 and 2011, Dunnuck kept both client funds and personal funds in his trust account because the IRS had imposed a levy on his personal checking account.

Dunnuck’s actions led to a delay of the government’s collection of taxes, but he has no disciplinary history, he was cooperative, retained a certified public accountant and has volunteered to represent fellow veterans in criminal cases.

In the Dec. 7 order, the justices imposed a six-month suspension, with 60 days actively served and the remainder stayed subject to completion of at least one year of probation. The suspension begins Jan. 21, 2013, and the costs of the proceeding are accessed against him.•