Failure To Respond Threatens Credibility Of Bar Discipline

The Nebraska Supreme Court disbarred an attorney who had previously been admonished and suspended for twelve months without reinstatement. In the present matters, among other things, the attorney had escalated a simple contract matter into one involving possible illegal and criminal conduct, contacted a represented party without counsel’s permission, taken a disputed fee without authority and forged her client’s name to a purported pro se pleading.

The misconduct was compounded by the failure to respond to the bar complaints, which Nebraska takes as a serious obligation: “Failure to respond to inquires and requests for information from [disciplinary counsel] is an important matter and a threat to the credibility of attorney discipline proceedings.” (Mike Frisch)