Sex And Lies Lead To Suspension

An attorney who paid too much attention to one domestic relations client and too little to another was suspended for three years by an Arizona Hearing Panel.

In one case

In the spring of 2007, April Evans retained Mr. Lieberman in a divorce action (Tucson Superior Court case no. D2007-0747). 

During the representation, Mr. Lieberman engaged in a sexual relationship with Ms. Evans that lasted for 2-3 years.

Mr. Lieberman and Ms. Evans did not have a consensual sexual relationship before the creation of their client-lawyer relationship.

In the other, he falsely advised a client that he had moved for reconsideraion

Mr. Lieberman, however, had never filed a motion for reconsideration, and, therefore, there was no motion to deliver to Ms. Caramella as he had promised.

The State Bar also asked

a. How many clients he had engaged in “similar informal/flirtatious banter with in addition to those identified” in file nos.12-1099 and 12- 2384.”

b. Whether he had ever had “a sexual relationship with a client.”

As to the response

Mr. Lieberman’s denial of having had a sexual relationship with a client was false.

He defaulted on the bar charges. (Mike Frisch)