Retired lawyer handled pro bono case, called opposing counsel 'lawyer babe,' ethics complaint says
An ethics complaint for unauthorized practice of law against a retired Illinois lawyer includes a claim that he turned hostile after an opposing lawyer refused to speak with him about a proposed divorce settlement because he wasn’t licensed to practice.
Stanley Anthony Walton III had agreed to represent a divorce client on a pro bono basis in January 2015, even though he had been placed on retired status in December 2014, according to the Dec. 23 ethics complaint, noted by the Legal Profession Blog.
Walton informed opposing counsel of his representation and dealt with her until April 2015, when Walton informed the lawyer he couldn’t appear in court because of his retired status, but he hoped the parties could settle out of court.
The opposing lawyer told Walton that she could no longer speak with him about the case if he was on retired status. A few days later Walton emailed the opposing lawyer saying he is still “involved in the dialogue” and he would review papers she is drafting. The opposing lawyer sent another email reiterating she could no long speak with Walton and he should withdraw from the representation.
The ethics complaint quotes Walton’s alleged email response, which contained, in part: “Done! You persuaded me. I am fucking done communicating with youse…….lawyer babe.” He included the address of his client and added: “GOOD FUCKING LUCK, SWEETIE!!!”
The complaint also alleges three other instances in which Walton practiced law while on inactive status, two of which were regarding a series of legal disputes over his stepmother’s estate. He is additionally accused of misrepresentation to a court, and of filing a baseless pleading with the intent to harass his stepsister and the executor of his stepmother’s estate.
