Neglect And Avoidance

An Illinois Hearing Board proposes disbarment of a defaulting attorney

The charged misconduct includes accepting fees in ten client matters and then doing little or no work in those matters, ignoring clients’ telephone messages and emails, failing to refund unearned fees, making misrepresentations to clients about the status of their matters, and failing to cooperate in the disciplinary investigations of all ten client matters.

In aggravation, we considered the Administrator’s Exhibits 1-18 and the testimony of ARDC investigator James Easoz regarding Respondent’s avoidance of service of a subpoena and attempts to avoid service of the Complaint. Additional aggravating factors include Respondent’s pattern of misconduct, the harm her misconduct caused to her clients, and her failure to participate in this disciplinary proceeding. Respondent did not appear for a sworn statement or deposition, file an answer, respond to discovery requests, participate in prehearing conferences, or respond to the motion to deem the allegations of the Complaint admitted.

(Mike Frisch)