ABA Journal - Law News Now

International Courts/Tribunals

Double Trouble for Italian Attorney & Unlicensed Twin

Posted Sep 30, 2008, 04:39 pm CDT
By Martha Neil

Overwhelmed with work in her law practice and part-time position as a substitute judge, a 54-year-old Italian attorney allegedly exercised an option that isn't available to most of her colleagues:

She apparently sent her twin to cover her defense caseload when she was called in to work as a judge elsewhere in Milan, reports Reuters, relying on coverage from Corriere della Sera, the country's leading newspaper. However, the alleged substitute sister isn't a lawyer, and clients soon figured out the difference.

Now both sisters, whose full names aren't reported, are defending twin criminal and civil cases.

"The problem was that sister Patrizia was not a lawyer like sister Gabriella but charged the clients anyway," the news agency writes.

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