Disciplinary Actions

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.

Reinstatement

Boone County attorney Robert D. Cheesebourough was reinstated Oct. 6 per an Oct. 8 order certifying the termination of a noncooperation suspension.

Reprimand

Marion County attorney Jay Meisenhelder was publicly reprimanded per an Oct. 7 order approving a conditional agreement for discipline. Meisenhelder revealed information relating to representation of a client without the client’s informed consent and revealed information relating to the representation of a former client not permitted or required under professional conduct rules. He is ordered to pay $256.95 in costs. Justice Steven David dissented, believing the discipline is insufficient in light of the admitted misconduct.

Suspensions

Lake County attorney Carrie L. Kooi was suspended for 90 days beginning Nov. 23 with 30 days actively served and the remainder stayed subject to the completion of at least two years of probation with JLAP services, per an Oct. 27 order. According the order, Kooi was seen driving recklessly before a police officer found her asleep behind the wheel. After spitting twice on an officer at a hospital where she was taken for a blood draw, she was charged with Level 6 felony battery by bodily waste and later pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor battery count. She also had a prior conviction for reckless driving, pleaded down from an original charge of operating while intoxicated, which she failed to report to the commission. Kooi agrees to reimburse the court and commission a total of $945.29 in fees and costs.

Huntington County attorney Matthew C. Piatt was suspended for 180 days, with 90 days actively served and 90 days stayed subject to the completion of at least two years of probation with JLAP monitoring, effective on the date of an Oct. 16 order. Piatt stipulated he was arrested five times between April 2017 and August 2018 for public intoxication or operating a vehicle while intoxicated. He failed to timely respond to the commission’s demand for information and failed to notify the commission of his first OWI conviction. Costs of the proceedings are assessed against Piatt.

Jefferson County, Kentucky, attorney Kenneth L. Sales was suspended per a Sept. 25 order for failing to cooperate with the commission’s investigation of a grievance against him. Sales was already suspended from practicing in Indiana for continuing legal education noncompliance. Sales is assessed $527.80, the cost of prosecuting the proceeding.•