Bankrupt In Indiana

The Indiana Supreme Court has disbarred an attorney who committed serious misconduct in multiple bankruptcy matters

Respondent stole clients’ funds, neglected clients’ cases, and disregarded court orders, all serious transgressions. See Matter of Pierce, 80 N.E.3d 888, 890 (Ind.  2017). Respondent’s misconduct also involved pervasive dishonesty toward clients and the bankruptcy court, and Respondent falsified her attorney registration with the Clerk of this Court. Further, Respondent has evaded numerous attempts by clients to contact her, and she has failed to accept service or participate in these disciplinary proceedings. The seriousness and scope of Respondent’s misconduct, and her failure to participate in these proceedings, persuade us that Respondent should be disbarred.

An example

Respondent represented “Client 1” in bankruptcy proceedings. Client 1’s case eventually was dismissed due to failure to make plan payments. Respondent had withdrawn the necessary funds from Client 1’s account, but rather than forwarding those funds to the bankruptcy trustee, Respondent instead used the funds for her own personal benefit or for the benefit of other clients. Respondent failed to provide a court-ordered accounting. Respondent issued a personal check to the court to cover the funds she had converted from Client 1, but that check was rejected for insufficient funds. When Respondent failed to appear for a subsequent hearing, the U.S. Marshal’s office seized Respondent and brought her to court. Respondent provided conflicting statements to the court regarding the whereabouts of Client 1’s funds and falsely told the court that she could not reach Client 1 and that Client 1 had failed to provide her with the trustee payments.

The court had earlier imposed an interim suspension for non-cooperation with the disciplinary matters. (Mike Frisch)