The Fourth Of July

An Answer has been filed to a Complaint of the Illinois Administrator arising from a domestic violence conviction involving the attorney’s former spouse.

The complaint alleges

On July 4, 2020 at approximately 9:30 am, Respondent was present in his home located in Elgin. Respondent’s wife was also present in the home. While Respondent and his wife were located in the kitchen of their home, Respondent began to berate his wife, including but not limited to yelling at her and calling her a “dumb fuck.”

Respondent then took pasta from the kitchen sink and shoved the pasta into his wife’s face, causing bruising to her lip. Respondent’s wife began to cry, and told Respondent that she wanted to call the police. Respondent took his wife’s phone and placed the phone in his pocket. Respondent refused to provide his wife with her phone, and attempted to persuade her not to call  the police.

Respondent’s wife repeatedly asked Respondent for her phone, and Respondent repeatedly refused to give it to her. Respondent’s wife attempted to leave the house so that she could get help, and Respondent prevented her from doing so by blocking the exits to the home with his body and by grabbing her wrists. Respondent’s wife was eventually able to obtain her phone and call the police.

Answer (unless expressly admitted, the above allegations are denied)

Respondent admits that on the morning of July 4, 2020, Respondent and his then wife were at their then home in Elmhurst, Illinois. Respondent states that he and his then wife began arguing in the second floor master bathroom and that at some point, the exact time uncertain, the argument intensified when Respondent’s then wife came into the kitchen of the house where Respondent was doing housework. Respondent regrets and is deeply remorseful for any profanities spoken and/or addressed toward his then wife.

Respondent regrets and is remorseful that in the heat of the argument with his then wife he made a reference regarding shoving pasta in her face. Respondent cannot say for certain when she started to cry. Respondent admits that he had his then wife’s cellular phone in the pocket of his running shorts. Respondent admits that he did not immediately return the phone to his wife when she asked for it.

Respondent admits that his wife repeatedly asked for the return of the phone and that he did not immediately return the phone to her. Respondent further admits that he attempted to prevent his wife from leaving the home as he was concerned, based on past circumstances, that she would leave the house and cause harm to herself or others. Respondent denies grabbing or touching his wife’s wrists (or any other body part). Respondent admits that he handed the cellular phone to his then wife and that she used it to call the police.

Patch reported

An Elmhurst man is accused of domestic violence after an incident during the morning of the Fourth of July, according to a police report. The suspect was identified as David P. Kaminski, 49, of Elmhurst. He is an attorney with the Chicago-based law firm Mayer Brown, where he specializes in banking and finance.

(Mike Frisch)