No One Shows Up At Room 209

An attorney charged with conversion of estate funds by the Illinois Administrator also is alleged to have failed to cooperate with the bar investigation

On January 6, 2015, Respondent telephoned  counsel for the Administrator and stated that Respondent had no means to travel  to Springfield the following day for his sworn statement. Counsel for the  Administrator told Respondent that counsel would arrange for a future date to  travel to Carbondale to take Respondent’s statement, that Respondent would be  notified of the date, time and place, once established, and that the subpoena  issued for his sworn statement would remain in force for that time.

Counsel for the Administrator arranged for  Respondent’s sworn statement to be taken in room number 209 of the Southern  Illinois University School of Law at 1:00 p.m. on February 9, 2015. On January  27, 2015, counsel for the Administrator sent a letter to Respondent at  Respondent’s last registered home address, advising him of the date, place and  time for the taking of his statement, and asking him to call counsel to confirm  receipt of the letter. Having received no communication from Respondent by  February 4, 2015, a copy of the letter was sent via FedEx overnight to the  Heritage Motel address, and the letter was delivered to the Heritage Motel on  February 5, 2015. Respondent did not reply to the letter, nor did he at any time  call counsel for the Administrator as requested in the letter.

On January 9, 2015, counsel for the  Administrator traveled to Carbondale to take Respondent’s sworn statement.  Respondent did not appear for the statement and he has at no time communicated  with counsel for the Administrator regarding any reason for his not appearing.

At no time did the Administrator waive or  excuse Respondent’s appearance on February 9, 2015.

(Mike Frisch)