Let The Sunshine Back In

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has reinstated a suspended attorney with a rather unusual story.

Petitioner is a permanent resident of Nicaragua who was admitted to practice in 1991.

She has never practiced law. Rather, she worked for title insurance company and then began her own title insurance business.

The misconduct that led to her conviction and disbarment involved false HUD statements that occurred in 1996-97. 

She pleaded guilty to a single count of a federal felony in 2001 and was sentenced to probation with restitution. She completed the requirements and was granted early termination. 

Petitioner fully cooperated in the disciplinary process and was suspended for 30 months in 2003. She did not practice law after suspension.

In 2002, she moved to Nicaragua and owned a series of youth hostels for backpackers that had several employees. She also provided assistance to orphaned children.

She has performed paralegal services for a Virginia since 2016.

The Disciplinary Board noted an impressive array of character witness testimony in the reinstatement including Petitioner’s brother (Chief of Pediatric Cardiology Surgery at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh) and his wife (also a pediatric cardiologist).

The board also found that petitioner had responsibly dealt with the debts of her business.

 Petitioner plans to practice family and immigration law in Pittsburgh. (Mike Frisch)