“Extensive Misconduct” Draws Proposed Disbarment

An Illinois Hearing Board has recommended disbarment of an attorney admitted in 2015

Respondent was charged with abandoning numerous client matters, causing clients’ lawsuits to be dismissed for want of prosecution and failing to inform them of the dismissals, failing to comply with court orders resulting in monetary sanctions against him and his client and the dismissal of the client’s lawsuit, giving a client a falsified settlement agreement and settlement check when the client’s matter had not settled, failing to tell a client that Respondent had voluntarily dismissed his case but leading the client to believe it was still pending, dishonestly converting settlement funds that were owed to a litigation lender, filing a false proof of service with the court, and failing to hold retainer fees in his client trust account. Additionally, he was charged with failing to respond to the Administrator’s requests for information about a client matter and failing to comply with subpoenas to appear for his sworn statement. The Hearing Panel found that the Administrator proved the charged misconduct with the exception of two charges of failing to keep clients reasonably advised of the status of their matters. Based on the extensive misconduct and significant aggravation, including Respondent’s failure to appear for his disciplinary hearing, the Hearing Panel recommends that Respondent be disbarred.