Sex, Lies And A BMW

The Illinois Review Board has recommended a three-year suspension of an attorney who engaged in a sexual relationship with a client

The Hearing  Board found Respondent’s sexual relationship with the client, while representing  her in a lawsuit seeking damages for the wrongful death of her husband,  constituted a conflict of interest. The Hearing Board found Respondent also  engaged in a conflict of interest and improper business transaction by his  multiple financial dealings with the client, while representing her. The Hearing  Board concluded Respondent counseled his client to testify falsely, by telling  her to describe their relationship as strictly platonic, as she was preparing  for depositions in the wrongful death case. The Hearing Board also concluded  statements Respondent made to the ARDC during its investigation of his conduct  were false.

The evidence that he sought to get the client to lie

While another attorney was preparing [client] Scott and her  children for their depositions in the wrongful death lawsuit, he asked Scott  about her personal relationship with Respondent. Scott telephoned Respondent and  informed him of the inquiry. Shortly after this call, Respondent sent a text  message to Scott, which told Scott to “deny anything other than we r good  friends nothing more I could lose my license.” Scott then told the counsel  preparing her for her deposition that she and Respondent were just friends.

The review board found that the findings were not against the manifest weight of the evidence.

The attorney also took out $48,000 in loans from the client to, among other things, buy himself a BMW.

The recommendation, if adopted, will require the attorney to establish his fitness prior to reinstatement. (Mike Frisch)