Suspension Recommended for Lawyer Who Sought Secretary via 'Adult Gig' Craigslist Ad
A one-year suspension has been recommended for an Illinois sole practitioner who advertised for a secretary/legal assistant in an ad posted on the “adult gigs” section of Craigslist.
Samir Zia Chowhan also mishandled an immigration case while he was an associate at Hughes Socol Piers Resnick and Dym and did not participate fully in the disciplinary matter, thus demonstrating “a lack of concern for his professional fate and disrespect for the disciplinary process,” says an Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission hearing panel in a written report issued Friday.
It notes that he has no prior history of discipline, but says he forfeited his opportunity to present further mitigating evidence by failing to appear at a hearing.
As detailed in an earlier ABAJournal.com post, Chowhan is accused by the ARDC of having told an applicant for the secretarial position that “sexy dressing and flirtatious interaction” as well as “sexual interaction” with Chowhan and an attorney who shared his office would be part of the job. Before being hired, she would be required to perform a sexual tryout as part of the job interview, according to a letter that Chowhan admitted that he sent to her, the ARDC said in an earlier complaint.
Hat tip: Wall Street Journal Law Blog.
