Lawyer Discipline

However you spell it, ‘humor’ or ‘humour’ is admissible in law practice

Are you sometimes overstressed practicing law? Are taking yourself too seriously? Is your sense of humor dusty, dormant or, even worse, muzzled? Lawyer Marcel Strigberger can help.

May 23, 2019 6:30 AM CDT

Former US attorney gives up his law license after he’s convicted for stalking

A former U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Georgia has surrendered his law license after his January conviction on two counts of aggravated stalking for harassing a former girlfriend. The Georgia Supreme Court accepted the petition by Richard Scott Thompson in a May 20 opinion, report the Daily Report…

May 22, 2019 6:30 AM CDT

Ethics probe opened after lawyer posts video of raccoon falling from his boat into water

The Florida Bar has opened an ethics probe of a lawyer who posted a video to Facebook showing a frightened raccoon tumbling into the water from his boat.

May 20, 2019 7:00 AM CDT

Lawyer agrees to disbarment for dropping clients, accepting others without telling law firm

A Tucson, Arizona, lawyer has agreed to disbarment for his conduct while working as an independent contractor for a law firm. Zachary Schon was disbarred effective May 13, according to a press release by the State Bar of Arizona. He was admitted to law practice in 2007. The Arizona Daily…

May 17, 2019 7:30 AM CDT

Lawyer suspended for failing to reveal client’s death as he continued to litigate case

A California lawyer has been suspended for 30 days for failing to disclose that one of his clients had died, even as the case headed to trial in a countersuit after an appellate win. Lawyer Steven Pabros of Sonoma County received a one-year suspension, stayed for all but 30 days,…

May 16, 2019 11:00 AM CDT

‘Anti-defense bill’ would put public defenders at risk of jail and hamper their work, critics say

Critics say legislation passed by the Louisiana House of Representatives would put public defenders in an ethical quandary and put them at risk of jail time. Dane Ciolino, a law professor at Loyola University at New Orleans, calls the legislation an “anti-defense bill” that is unnecessary and one-sided, the Appeal…

May 13, 2019 9:31 AM CDT

Lawyer who secretly changed origination credits to his benefit should be suspended, ethics panel says

An Illinois lawyer who inadvertently discovered he was able to alter origination credits on his office computer should be suspended for making changes that added more than $200,000 to his book of business, according to an ethics hearing board. Michael Joseph Shifrin should be suspended for one year for making…

May 6, 2019 7:00 AM CDT

Lawyer disbarred for abandoning clients after moving across the country to ‘play jazz’

A New Jersey lawyer has been disbarred for dropping work on two bankruptcy cases, vanishing from New Jersey and keeping retainers of $1,500 and $1,410. One of the clients learned that lawyer James Peter Byrne had moved through the lawyer’s Facebook page, according to a report by the New Jersey…

May 2, 2019 1:52 PM CDT

Florida corrections department lawyer resigns after Facebook rant

A Florida Department of Corrections lawyer who made derogatory comments about black people on Facebook resigned Wednesday. Eric Giunta, the department’s assistant general counsel since December 2017, wrote that “black people need to stop raping, murdering, stealing, and vandalizing, and quit having children out of wedlock” in reaction to a…

Apr 25, 2019 9:16 AM CDT

Criminal defense attorney and judge settle suit over alleged retaliation involving recording

A Houston criminal defense attorney who recorded a Galveston County judge saying he “overworks” cases and lacks experience has settled his lawsuit against the judge. In March 2018, Andrew Willey sued Judge Jack Ewing of the Galveston County Court at Law No. 3 for allegedly retaliating against him by refusing…

Apr 23, 2019 4:09 PM CDT

ACLU challenges attorney over sexual relationships, time out of practice

The American Civil Liberties Union is trying to remove an attorney from a death penalty case in Kern County in California, arguing that his sexual relationships with a client’s daughters and lengthy leave of absence from the law could be detrimental to the client. Lawyer Gary Turnbull was appointed to…

Apr 23, 2019 9:25 AM CDT

Former congressman suspended for lying about ‘ugly lesbians’ comment

The Kentucky Supreme Court has imposed a 60-day suspension from the practice of law on former U.S. Rep. Carroll Hubbard, D-Ky., after he mailed attorney Alisha Bobo a photo of her and her wife with a handwritten caption “2 pitifull [sic.], fat, ugly lesbians.” In a six-page opinion, filed April…

Apr 22, 2019 11:00 AM CDT

Utah bar investigation into polygamy could raise other legal challenges

The Utah State Bar is investigating complaints that seven lawyers are violating rules of conduct by being involved in polygamous relationships, a felony punishable by five to 15 years in prison.

Apr 22, 2019 9:19 AM CDT

Lawyer held in contempt for spending $390K in frozen funds spends 2 weekends per month in jail

A lawyer in Jackson, Mississippi, continues to spend two weekends per month in jail for contempt of court after he failed to persuade a judge to switch him to home confinement. Chief U.S. District Judge Daniel P. Jordan III denied the motion by lawyer Eduardo Flechas in February, the Mississippi…

Apr 18, 2019 7:00 AM CDT

Lawyer suspended for telling tenant he is worthless and should commit suicide

Updated: A prominent real estate lawyer in New York City has been suspended for four months, partly for telling a tenant in a recorded phone conversation that he would be reported to authorities and that “now you’re my bitch.”

Apr 4, 2019 11:49 AM CDT