Disciplinary Actions: March 29-June 30, 2022
Read a summary of disciplinary actions handed down by the Indiana Supreme Court during the second quarter of 2022.
Attorney Discipline
Articles
Three Indianapolis attorneys disciplined
The Indiana Supreme Court has has suspended two attorneys from the practice of law in Indiana for noncooperation and a third Hoosier lawyer indefinitely.
Former St. Joseph Co. referee admonished for suspending parenting time based on unauthorized ex parte information
A former St. Joseph County referee has avoided formal discipline after she temporarily suspended a father’s parenting time based on notes she received from a guardian ad litem that she later refused to share with the father and his counsel.
Grant of PCR petition upheld after lawyer withheld disciplinary actions
Despite being “caught at the scene of the crimes,” the Court of Appeals of Indiana has affirmed post-conviction relief for a man who pleaded guilty to burglary based on the advice of an attorney who was hiding the fact that he was planning to resign from the Indiana bar for disciplinary reasons.
Seymour attorney disciplined by IN Supreme Court after 7th Circuit suspension
A Seymour attorney suspended by the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals for misconduct has been hit with reciprocal discipline from the Indiana Supreme Court.
Former casino general counsel Keeler’s law license suspended after guilty plea
Following his guilty plea to tax fraud in April, former casino executive and state lawmaker John Keeler has been suspended from the practice of law in Indiana.
Unpaid dues, failure to meet CLE requirements leaves 246 lawyers facing suspension
A total of 246 lawyers face suspension from practicing law in Indiana for unpaid dues, violations of Interest on Lawyer Trust Account rules or failure to comply with continuing legal education requirements, the Indiana Supreme Court announced Tuesday.
Fort Wayne lawyer on probation, JLAP monitoring following OWI conviction
A Fort Wayne criminal defense and DUI attorney has been placed on probation following a criminal OWI conviction.
Three Indiana attorneys suspended for noncooperation
The Indiana Supreme Court has issued a trio of orders suspending three different attorneys for noncompliance with the Indiana Supreme Court Disciplinary Commission.
Crown Point attorney suspended after cases delegated to son were neglected
Steven A. Johnson, a Crown Point mediation and labor attorney, has been suspended from the practice of law in Indiana after two cases he handed off to his son resulted in two five-figure sanctions and a default judgment of $1.8 million against his client due to negligence.
Justices impose reciprocal discipline on attorney suspended in Southern District for resisting conviction
An Indianapolis attorney suspended from practicing in the Indiana Southern District Court following a misdemeanor resisting law enforcement conviction has received reciprocal discipline from the Indiana Supreme Court.
Suspended Evansville lawyer disbarred for trust mismanagement, forgery, falsifying doc
Evansville attorney Jared M. Thomas has been disbarred by the Indiana Supreme Court for criminally mismanaging his trust account, forging a judge’s signature and falsifying at least one document.
Fort Wayne attorney suspended for 2019 arrest
Coming to an agreement with the Indiana Supreme Court Disciplinary Commission, a northern Indiana attorney with a lengthy disciplinary history has been suspended for at least one year from the practice of law for his 2019 arrest for possession of a legend drug.
Indy attorney’s noncompliance suspension converted to indefinite suspension
An Indianapolis attorney has had his suspension for noncompliance with the Indiana Supreme Court Disciplinary Commission converted to an indefinite suspension for failure to respond.
Crown Point attorney publicly reprimanded for accusing opposing counsel of sexual relationship with police
A Crown Point attorney has been publicly reprimanded for accusing an opposing counsel of having a sexual relationship with the police sergeant who handled an opposing client’s case.
Disciplinary Actions: Jan. 1-March 28, 2022
Read a summary of disciplinary decisions handed down by the Indiana Supreme Court during the first quarter of 2022.
Pro se attorney gets public reprimand from justices for direct email to opposing party
Describing an Indianapolis lawyer as “his own worst enemy” when it comes to electronic communications, a split Indiana Supreme Court has issued a public reprimand after the lawyer sent a threatening email directly to an opposing party rather than working through another lawyer. A dissenting justice, however, said the rule in question in this issue of first impression does not apply to pro se lawyers like the attorney who was disciplined.
Immigration attorney suspended again for unauthorized practice of law
An Indianapolis attorney already on probation following a suspension will have to serve the remaining balance of her suspended time after she was found to have practiced law while under a reciprocal suspension order.
Lying to client about filing lawsuit gets Indy attorney at least 1-year suspension
An Indianapolis attorney has been suspended from the practice of law for no less than one year without automatic reinstatement after he lied to a client about filing a lawsuit on her behalf and failed to inform her that she may have had an actionable malpractice claim against him.
7th Circuit demands Seymour attorney answer for conduct at appellate court
An appeal of a federal court’s ruling in a dispute with the IRS has a Hoosier attorney facing sanctions after the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals found he “pressed frivolous arguments” and engaged in conduct contrary to professional standards.