Unsecured Link To Dropbox Violated Confidentiality Rule

A public reprimand has been imposed by the Indiana Supreme Court

Respondent represented “Client” in a protective order case. Client also worked for several months as an unpaid non-attorney assistant for Respondent. During that period, Respondent provided Client with a Dropbox cloud storage link that provided access to firm materials and client files. When Client left Respondent’s employ in January 2023, Respondent did not secure or deactivate the link. The link remained active and unsecured at least through May 2024.

Separately, while Respondent was representing a client in a paternity case, the opposing party filed a grievance against Respondent. Respondent emailed opposing counsel and threatened to bring a defamation action against the opposing party. When opposing counsel notified Respondent that the Commission had declined to pursue charges based on the grievance, Respondent responded that the opposing party had “lucked out.”

Violations: The parties agree that Respondent violated these Indiana Professional Conduct Rules prohibiting the following misconduct:

1.6: Revealing information relating to representation of a client without the client’s informed consent.

8.4(d): Engaging in conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice.

The parties jointly proposed the sanction. (Mike Frisch)