Vacant Office

The Indiana Supreme Court has imposed a suspension of at least 60 days without automatic reinstatement for misconduct in two matters

“Client 1,” who had recently been divorced after reaching a mediated settlement agreement with his former spouse, hired Respondent to review one qualified domestic relations order (“QDRO”) and to prepare a second QDRO. Respondent agreed to accept $900 for the contemplated work, which Client 1 paid. Thereafter, Respondent was not responsive to multiple attempts by Client 1 to reach her; and when Client 1 drove to Respondent’s office, he found it vacant. Client 1 fired Respondent by email and requested a refund, but Respondent did not respond.

Respondent prepared a QDRO for “Client 2,” which the pension plan rejected. Client 2 later filed a grievance alleging that Respondent did not respond to his attempts to contact her after the QDRO was rejected. Respondent did not respond to demands for information by the Commission, prompting the initiation of show cause proceedings. Those proceedings eventually were dismissed when Respondent belatedly complied.

Respondent did not participate in the discipline proceeding. (Mike Frisch)