Illinois Supreme Court Enters Discipline Orders
The Illinois Supreme Court has announced sanctions in a number of matters.
Highlights
In re WARREN BALLENTINE III, Attorney Number 6276358
Mr. Ballentine, who was licensed in 2002, was disbarred. After a four-day federal jury trial, he was found guilty on one count of fraud, one count of mail and wire fraud, two counts of bank fraud, and two counts of making false statements to financial institutions. He acted as a lawyer in real estate closings that involved more than two dozen fraudulent loans that bilked lenders out of almost $10 million. He was suspended on an interim basis and until further order of the Court on October 21, 2015.
In re WALTER RYAN HAYBERT, Attorney Number 6289703
Mr. Haybert was licensed in Illinois in 2006 and in California in 2008. The Supreme Court of California disbarred him following a misdemeanor conviction of contempt of court for violating a protective order requiring him to stay at least 100 feet away from his ex-wife. The Supreme Court of Illinois imposed reciprocal discipline and disbarred him.
In re SCOTT THOMAS KAMIN, Attorney Number 6226855
Mr. Kamin, who was licensed in 1995, was suspended for ninety days. He dishonestly accepted service of a complaint and summonses for the subtenants in his office suite, who, along with Mr. Kamin, were defendants in an eviction action filed by his landlord. After he accepted service on behalf of the subtenants, he concealed the lawsuit from them. When he appeared in court for the case, he failed to inform the court that he had not been authorized to accept service or appear on behalf of the subtenants. The suspension is effective on October 11, 2018.
One we had reported involving on line misconduct
In re DREW RANDOLPH QUITSCHAU, Attorney Number 6278288
Mr. Quitschau, who was licensed in 2002, was suspended for six months and until further order of the Court. He created an account and false profile for another attorney on the website Match.com, and enrolled that lawyer in online groups, including the Obesity Action Coalition, Pig International and Diabetic Living, without that lawyer’s knowledge or permission. He also created a false Facebook profile account and posted false reviews of that lawyer’s legal abilities on three other websites.
A breach of the duty of confidentiality
In re LAURA LEE ROBINSON, Attorney Number 6216755
Ms. Robinson, who was licensed in 1993, was suspended for ninety days and must complete the ARDC Professionalism Seminar within one year. She entered into an agreement that improperly prohibited her client from reporting any aspect of her representation to the ARDC. Approximately nine months later, after her client informed her that he no longer wanted her to represent him, she drafted a letter that disclosed information about her client’s criminal history, and that levelled accusations against him, including that he wanted to “bribe the court” and was a “con man.” She thereafter filed the letter with the court without her client’s consent. The suspension is effective on October 11, 2018.
The gurus of Illinois discipline can illuminate
For additional information concerning these disciplinary orders contact:
James J. Grogan or Ari Telisman, Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission, Chicago.
312.565.2600 or 800.826.8625
(Mike Frisch)