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A Pendleton-based lawyer has been suspended from the practice 0f law after allegedly failing to cooperate with the Indiana Supreme Court Disciplinary Commission’s investigation of a grievance against him.
On Sept. 17, the high court ordered Dean McConnell, with the firm Dean McConnell IP Law, to show cause as to why he shouldn’t be immediately suspended from the practice for failing to cooperate with the commission’s investigation of a grievance filed against him. Both parties in the case filed responsive pleadings.
On Oct. 23, the commission filed a “Request for Ruling and to Tax Costs” stating McConnell still hadn’t cooperated. McConnell did not respond to the October filing.
McConnell did not respond to Indiana Lawyer’s request for comment on the commission’s March and December complaint filings against him before Tuesday’s deadline.
McConnell’s suspension is effective immediately, Chief Justice Loretta Rush ruled in a Dec. 13 order.
The suspension is in place until the executive direction of the commission certifies that McConnell has cooperated with the investigation.
He must fulfill the duties of a suspended attorney and reimburse the commission $518.85.
McConnell has another disciplinary case pending with the commission. In March 2024, the commission opened a verified disciplinary complaint regarding McConnell’s failure to report a finding of guilt in a criminal act to the disciplinary commission.
In February 2023, McConnell was convicted of operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated, stemming from a May 2022 arrest and given 355 days of probation. As a condition of probation, he was required to show enrollment in a substance abuse treatment program, and his license was suspended for a year.
He did not report his criminal conviction to the disciplinary commission.
In August 2023, McConnell was charged with driving while suspended and speeding in Anderson City Court.
The following February, the Anderson City Probation Department filed an Information for Violation of Probation in the OWI case, alleging McConnell had not provided proof of his substance evaluation or treatment.
A bench trial is scheduled for April 2025.
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