Ethics

Lawyer gets suspension after posting secret nude photos of his then-wife

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A Philadelphia lawyer will be suspended for three years after taking secret nude photos of his then-wife and posting them to the website wifelovers.com without her knowledge.

Lawyer John E. Toczydlowski, 51, agreed to the suspension in a joint petition with the disciplinary counsel. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court imposed the three-year suspension in a June 23 order noted by the Legal Profession Blog.

The Legal Intelligencer has coverage at Law.com.

According to the joint petition, Toczydlowski created a username and contributed 24 posts to the website that included naked or partially clothed photos of his then-wife. Toczydlowski added sexually graphic comments and invited others to engage in sex acts with his wife, although he said he didn’t intend for anyone to act on the comments. Some photos showed his wife’s face.

Toczydlowski also created an account under a different username. One post showed two more nude photos of his wife, identified her as “soon to be ex” and said she travels extensively to two states.

“Hope you get a crack at her,” he wrote.

The ex-wife had discovered the posts the same day. She said she feared for her safety because of the posts and had to live in a constant state of vigilance and worry.

Toczydlowski later pleaded no contest to misdemeanor charges of unlawful dissemination of illicit images and harassment. He self-reported his plea to disciplinary authorities and is being treated by a psychotherapist.

Toczydlowski has no history of prior discipline in his 26 years of law practice. His suspension was made retroactive to March 2022.

Toczydlowski’s attorney, Samuel C. Stretton, told the Legal Intelligencer that his client “has accepted responsibility, he’s made the changes in his life, he’s getting the help he needs, and he’s doing very well.”

Stretton said he hopes that Toczydlowski can be “reinstated someday to the practice of law.”

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