Lawyer is accused of sexually assaulting associate and abusing another, offering custody for sex
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A prominent Chicago lawyer who once chaired a screening committee for guardians ad litem is facing felony charges that accuse of him of sexually assaulting an associate at his firm, sexually abusing another and fondling a woman while telling her that she had to “do a little extra” to get custody of her children.
Lawyer David Pasulka, 61, is facing criminal charges of criminal sexual assault, aggravated criminal sexual abuse and criminal sexual abuse, report the Chicago Sun-Times, the Chicago Tribune and CBS Chicago.
Pasulka was also accused in an Illinois ethics complaint filed in July. After the filing, he was removed as chair of the screening committee and suspended from working as a guardian ad litem, CBS Chicago reports.
Prosecutors said Pasulka was working as a court-appointed guardian ad litem for two children of a woman in 2017 when he told the woman that she should be a “good girl” and “do a little extra” to get custody. He then allegedly reached under her bra. The woman stood up to stop the contact, but Pasulka allegedly told her that she could return that evening to uphold her end of the deal, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. The woman reported the alleged incident to police four days later.
The two associates who accused Pasulka no longer work at his firm, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. Pasulka told them that he was powerful, and he could hurt their careers if they reported his wrongdoing, Cook County Assistant State’s Attorney James Murphy said in court Monday.
One associate said Pasulka put his hand on her thigh and rubbed her legs in 2012 while they were driving to Springfield, Illinois, to argue before the Illinois Supreme Court, the Chicago Sun-Times reports. The next month, prosecutors say, Pasulka called the woman to his office and sexually assaulted her on his office couch.
Pasulka is accused of fondling and touching another associate inappropriately several times beginning in 2015. Pasulka allegedly told the woman that he was looking for a “team player,” according to the Chicago Sun-Times. Pasulka allegedly told the woman that she could always say no, but when she did so on one occasion, he complained that she was “saying no” when she “should be saying yes.”
Pasulka’s lawyer, Laura Morask, said in court that her client “vehemently” disagreed with almost all the allegations and thought “there’s an agenda” behind the charges, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.
