Attorney Discipline - The Indiana Lawyer

Prosecutor in Vincennes fighting discipline over role in police sex investigation

January 30, 2020 | Dave Stafford

The elected prosecutor of Knox County in southwestern Indiana faces an attorney discipline case related to his conduct stemming from a local police investigation into his former deputy prosecutor’s relationship with a woman who was serving time on drug charges. An attorney for the prosecutor, however, is contesting the discipline case and says the prosecutor is the victim of a vendetta born of the small-town rumor mill.

Ex-deputy prosecutor who retaliated against detective suspended

January 29, 2020 | Katie Stancombe

A former Knox County chief deputy prosecutor has been suspended from the practice of law for abusing his prosecutorial authority as part of a retaliation campaign against a detective who discovered his sexual relationship with a criminal defendant. The elected Knox County prosecutor also faces a related disciplinary case, according to the Indiana Supreme Court.

Indiana lawyer faces DUI charges after announcing candidacy

January 27, 2020 | Associated Press and IL Staff

An Indiana attorney was arrested on drunken driving charges in the southern Indiana community of Newburgh shortly after announcing his candidacy for the state Legislature.

Shelbyville attorney suspended after secretary’s felony theft

January 24, 2020 | IL Staff

A Shelbyville lawyer whose legal secretary was convicted of felony theft and fraud charges has been suspended for 60 days for his failure to supervise the secretary’s actions. The secretary was convicted and ordered to make restitution of more than $178,000, including more than $72,000 to her former boss.

Letter to the editor: Hill discipline recommendation raises race bias concerns

January 22, 2020

The Indiana Disciplinary Commission’s recommended professional sanctions against Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill attests to ongoing racial disparities within the state’s legal and criminal justice system.

Judge orders sanctions against state attorney, DOC

January 22, 2020 | Olivia Covington

Monetary sanctions potentially exceeding $100,000 and default judgment have been entered against state defendants and their attorney in a prisoner case that the presiding federal judge said “shattered” her trust in the defendants’ litigation practices.

Connersville attorney disbarred for ‘criminal and dishonest’ conduct

January 21, 2020 | IL Staff

A Connersville attorney accused of using client funds to pay for her children’s school tuition and of repeatedly making false assertions to the Disciplinary Commission, among numerous other “criminal and dishonest” acts, has been disbarred.

Suspended lawyer accused of thefts from disabled clients jailed on warrant

January 21, 2020 | Dave Stafford

A suspended Greenwood lawyer accused of stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from disabled and injured clients whose special-needs trusts he established and then allegedly used for his own purposes is in jail in Muncie, where he may remain until standing trial on criminal charges around the state. Kenneth “Shane” Service, 46, was booked into the Delaware County Jail on Thursday, according to jail records.

Krupp enters AG race: ‘Time for Hoosiers to hire a new lawyer’

January 13, 2020 | Katie Stancombe

Indiana State Department of Revenue Commissioner Adam Krupp announced Monday he will challenge incumbent Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill for the Republican Party nomination, saying he will promote “leadership, integrity and results.” Krupp joins a crowded field seeking to topple the embattled AG.

Revenue director challenging Indiana attorney general

January 13, 2020 | Associated Press

The head of the Indiana Department of Revenue has decided to challenge embattled state Attorney General Curtis Hill’s bid seeking the Republican nomination for the office. Adam Krupp has said he would resign as the revenue department’s commissioner by the end of January to run full-time for attorney general.

Judge orders sanctions against state attorney, DOC in prisoner litigation

January 9, 2020 | Olivia Covington

Monetary sanctions and default judgment have been entered against state defendants and their attorney in a prisoner case that the presiding federal judge said “shattered” her trust in the defendants’ litigation practices. The judge also imposed new requirements on lawyers in the Indiana Attorney General’s office who defend the Department of Correction in prisoner civil-rights cases.

Wise counsel when moving between firms

January 8, 2020 | Olivia Covington

Law firm managers have long known they can’t require attorneys to sign noncompete agreements when they join a firm. Even so, there have still been instances where firms have made it challenging for a lawyer trying to make a lateral move. But a recent opinion from the American Bar Association Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility makes it clear that any provision of an employment agreement that interferes with a client’s autonomy is never acceptable.

Commission seeks attorney’s suspension in Park Tudor sex scandal discipline case

January 7, 2020 | Olivia Covington

The Indiana Supreme Court Disciplinary Commission is calling for the suspension of a prominent Indianapolis employment attorney it accused of possessing child pornography in the fallout of a teacher-student sex scandal at Park Tudor High School. His defense team counters that no sanction is warranted.

7th Circuit orders $1,000 sanction against Crawfordsville attorney accused of altering evidence

January 7, 2020 | Katie Stancombe

A Crawfordsville attorney accused of altering photos submitted as evidence in a slip-and-fall case must pay a $1,000 sanction to the 7^th Circuit Court of Appeals. The attorney has also self-reported the underlying incident to the Indiana Supreme Court Disciplinary Commission.

Prosecutors: Deeply-in-debt Michael Avenatti sought payday

December 27, 2019 | Associated Press

Prosecutors say high-profile California attorney Michael Avenatti was over $15 million in debt when he tried to extort up to $25 million from Nike, while Avenatti’s lawyers say the money he legally requested to conduct an internal probe of the sportswear giant was a bargain. Both sides made the assertions in court papers filed late Tuesday in advance of a Jan. 22 criminal trial in Manhattan.

Year in Review: Baer death penalty reversal most-read IL story of 2019

December 25, 2019 | IL Staff

A federal appeals court’s reversal of Madison County killer Fredrick Baer’s death sentence was the most-read story on the Indiana Lawyer’s digital edition, www.theindianalawyer.com. Indiana Lawyer readers clicked on stories on our website more than 2.6 million times between Jan. 1 and Dec. 10, 2019, according to Google Analytics. Here are the 50 most-viewed story headlines during that time.

Bell and Grass: 3 things to know about Indiana law license rentals

December 25, 2019

The “license rental” model poses several ethical traps. Here are three things you need to know about “license rentals”:

Year in Review: Several attorneys’ lawlessness, recklessness gave lawyers a bad name in past year

December 25, 2019 | Dave Stafford

Most Hoosier attorneys will never face a formal disciplinary complaint for misconduct. But in 2019, the bad behavior of a few lawyers resulted in professional sanctions or criminal charges. Here is a look back at some of the most egregious professional lowlights from the past year.

Year in Review: In 2019, troubles dominated legal news

December 25, 2019 | Dave Stafford

When those in the legal community look back at 2019, they may turn their heads and look forward instead. While the year had bright spots, several sordid sagas dominated the headlines.

Suspended Fort Wayne bankruptcy lawyer who served theft sentence resigns

December 20, 2019

A former Fort Wayne bankruptcy lawyer who served a completed a federal prison sentence for embezzling from a client has resigned from the Indiana bar. Randall Stiles, 46, was released from the federal penitentiary in Terre Haute on Oct. 31 after serving a six-month sentence imposed in March for his guilty plea to two counts of bankruptcy fraud and a misdemeanor tax charge.

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