Overbilling Suspension

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has accepted a two-year consent suspension  of an “independent staff attorney” who inflated his bills while employed as a $40 per hour document reviewer for Drinker Biddle.

The attorney was employed from November 2011 to November 2012 when the firm confronted him about billing concerns. He resigned, self-reported to disciplinary authorities and admitted the misconduct.

In March 2013, the firm and Respondent’s counsel agreed that Respondent would pay $12,250.00 to the firm to compensate the firm for wages that Respondent had received, but had not earned; Respondent’s counsel advised the firm that Respondent would repay the firm when he has an income.

The court gave him credit for time served on an interim suspension.

In mitigation, the attorney was young, inexperienced and suffered from ADD, depression and other conditions. (Mike Frisch)