Disciplinary Actions — 8/22/2018
Read who’s been reprimanded and suspended in the most recent reporting period.
Discipline
Articles
Attorney guilty of felony OWI avoids suspension, gets JLAP monitoring
An Indianapolis attorney with two operating while intoxicated convictions in as many years has received a stayed suspension of her law license from a majority of the Indiana Supreme Court, which ordered the attorney to participate in Judges and Lawyers Assistance Program monitoring.
Knox County judge reprimanded for tossing friend’s case
A Knox Superior Court judge had been publicly reprimand for reinstating a close friend’s suspended driver’s license and suggesting a deputy prosecutor dismiss the case, according to an Indiana Supreme Court order issued Friday.
Indy attorney suspended, ordered to participate in JLAP services
An Indianapolis attorney who was recently diagnosed with a mental health condition has been suspended from the practice of law and must participate in recovery services with the Indiana Judges and Lawyers Assistance Program.
Justices to suspended attorney: Pay fine or face prison
The Indiana Supreme Court has ordered a Kokomo attorney who is already suspended to pay a fine or face a 15-day prison sentence after he was found in contempt for practicing law while suspended. The court said the lawyer twice contacted opposing counsel who responded by noting his suspension.
ABA approves changes to lawyer advertising rules
Among the resolutions adopted by the American Bar Association House of Delegates during its annual meeting this month was one that could significantly change the way attorneys conduct their business: Resolution 101 to amend the attorney advertising rules.
Attorney who stole Adderall suspended, another reprimanded
A Terre Haute attorney who stole prescription drugs from a client’s girlfriend has been suspended from the practice of law in Indiana for at least a month and has been ordered to begin a Judges and Lawyers Assistance Program monitoring agreement.
Elkhart woman ordered to stop unauthorized practice of law
An Elkhart woman has been ordered by the Indiana Supreme Court to cease the unauthorized practice of law in matters of immigration, business and family law.
Discipline file: Knox County judge tossed friend’s case
Knox Superior Court 2 Judge Ryan D. Johanningsmeier faces judicial discipline proceedings after he reinstated a close friend’s suspended driver’s license and allegedly suggested a deputy prosecutor dismiss the case.
Decatur attorney accused of forging judge’s signature suspended
An attorney in northeastern Indiana has been suspended from the practice of law after she was criminally charged. The lawyer has been accused of signing a judge’s name to a phony order in a divorce case and sending emails to an expungement client’s widow posing as a deputy prosecutor.
Carmel attorney suspended for not communicating with clients
A Carmel attorney who contracted with a Texas law firm but did not engage with the clients he represented as part of the contractual relationship has been suspended from the practice of law in Indiana for 30 days.
Evansville magistrate resigns amid misconduct investigation
A Vanderburgh County magistrate judge has resigned from the bench following an Indiana Commission on Judicial Qualifications investigation into allegations of misconduct. The Indiana Supreme Court announced Magistrate Jeffrey T. Shoulders’ resignation on Tuesday, almost two weeks after Shoulders officially resigned on May 30.
Disciplinary Actions — 6/13/2018
Read about attorney disciplinary actions from the most recent reporting period.
Man who replied “so what?” barred from unauthorized practice
A Lake County man who is not licensed to practice law in Indiana but who performed legal work for a friend in a family law matter has been permanently enjoined from continuing his unauthorized legal work.
SCOTUS-created group lists anti-harassment measures
A federal working group has made two dozen recommendations for ways the judiciary can prevent and respond to workplace harassment, issuing a report that marks the end of the first phase of a U.S. Supreme Court-led initiative that began in response to the national #MeToo movement.
Marion attorney suspended after cocaine conviction
A Marion attorney who pleaded guilty to a felony drug offense earlier this year is now under an interim suspension from the practice of law.
Attorney who threatened estranged wife with ax disbarred
A Mishawka attorney convicted of felony intimidation after threatening to kill his wife with an ax has been disbarred. The former lawyer is the second disbarred this week by the Indiana Supreme Court for felony convictions.
Imprisoned Anderson attorney disbarred for theft from estates
An Anderson attorney currently serving an eight-year prison sentence for misappropriating hundreds of thousands in estate funds has been disbarred. Stephen Schuyler pleaded guilty to 15 counts last June and had been under an interim suspension issued by the Indiana Supreme Court.
Suspended attorney who continued to practice fined $500
An Indianapolis attorney who has been suspended from the practice of law in Indiana for more than eight years has been found in contempt of court after continuing to practice despite his suspension.
Disciplinary Actions – May 16, 2018
Read who has been suspended from the practice of law by the Indiana Supreme Court during the most recent reporting period.