Lawyer Discipline

Lawyer resigns from bar after he is accused of forging prosecutor’s signature

Ethics regulators in Massachusetts have accepted the resignation of a lawyer who was accused of signing an assistant U.S. attorney’s name to a settlement agreement in litigation against the U.S. government.

Apr 6, 2021 11:40 AM CDT

Top tips for lawyers who struggle with self-compassion to develop inner strength

There are three levels of positive responses to suffering. The first, sympathy, is merely the mental recognition that suffering is present. The second, empathy, includes an emotional component, with the effect that we feel for the person who is suffering. The third, compassion, includes the desire or motivation to do something about that person’s suffering.

Apr 1, 2021 9:08 AM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: Defamation suit against Trump proceeds; 4th Circuit upholds terrorist watch list

Trump has to face defamation suit Donald Trump has lost his bid to delay a defamation suit that was based on his status as president. The New York Court of Appeals agreed to dismiss Trump’s appeal on Tuesday, arguing that the issues in the suit by a former Apprentice contestant…

Mar 31, 2021 4:45 PM CDT

Lawyer who said disbarment would be an ‘honor’ gets his wish

A Washington, D.C., lawyer who told ethics regulators that disbarment would be an “honor” will no longer be allowed to practice law in the district.

Mar 31, 2021 3:15 PM CDT

BigLaw partner added ‘fictional hours’ to client bills, meriting a 2-year suspension, court says

Clients were satisfied with the work of lawyer Doreen Zankowski, who worked “exceedingly hard” and produced excellent results, according to the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court. But substantial evidence shows that Zankowski added “fictional hours” to clients’ bills, amounting to hundreds of hours, according to the top Massachusetts court’s March 25…

Mar 31, 2021 10:00 AM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: State supreme court limits use of bail; prosecutors in this state may face stricter discipline

California judges must consider defendant’s ability to pay when setting bail, ruling says The California Supreme Court ruled Thursday that it is unconstitutional to keep criminal defendants behind bars simply because they cannot afford to post bail. The decision upholds an earlier ruling that ordered a new bail hearing for…

Mar 26, 2021 3:14 PM CDT

State ethics officials may draft new version of lawyer-bias ban after dropping appeal of adverse ruling

Pennsylvania ethics officials have withdrawn a federal appeal that sought to reinstate an ethics rule banning lawyers from knowingly manifesting bias or engaging in discrimination in the practice of law.

Mar 19, 2021 9:42 AM CDT

The power of silence in legal practice

To eliminate the discomfort of the vacuum, your counterparts will predictably rush right into that void with the most amazing of missteps, causing them to bid against themselves with unnecessary concessions or admissions.

Mar 17, 2021 9:00 AM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: Judge trims maternity claims against BigLaw firm; prison guards ordered to wear body cams

Judge trims claims by ex-Morrison & Foerster lawyers A magistrate judge is allowing two former lawyers at Morrison & Foerster to pursue punitive damages in their suit claiming that the firm discriminated against them for taking maternity leave. U.S. Magistrate Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley of the Northern District of California…

Mar 15, 2021 4:45 PM CDT

Lawyer who once brought loaded gun to court should be disbarred partly for deportation threats, opinion says

Disbarment is the appropriate punishment for a California lawyer accused of threatening to get opponents’ clients deported, failing to promptly return client money, and improperly handling his attorney trust account, a bar review department has found.

Mar 10, 2021 9:13 AM CST

Afternoon Briefs: Judge orders negotiation on ‘race-norming’ claim in NFL case; judiciary considers amicus disclosure

Judge tosses challenge to ‘race-norming’ in dementia tests U.S. District Judge Anita Brody of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania has dismissed a lawsuit challenging “race-norming” in dementia tests used to determine which retired NFL players qualify for compensation in a concussion settlement. Brody said the league and the class counsel…

Mar 9, 2021 3:03 PM CST

Florida lawyer faces ethics complaint over pit bull ads

Florida lawyer Robert Laurence Pelletier is facing an ethics complaint by the Florida Bar for describing himself as a pit bull lawyer and using an online image of a pit bull.

Mar 9, 2021 9:06 AM CST

‘Real Housewives’ lawyer had close ties to some state bar officials, never faced ethics charges despite accusations

Los Angeles trial lawyer Tom Girardi, the husband of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Erika Jayne, was frequently accused of wrongdoing in lawsuits, yet he never faced disciplinary charges by the State Bar of California.

Mar 8, 2021 10:40 AM CST

Holistic crisis management: Lawyers step in to solve problems, large and small

Throughout Laurence Kahn’s career as a lawyer who prosecuted consumer fraud and resolved countless disputes, he always believed a big part of his job was helping people with their problems. In 2004, that attitude sparked a thought one night as Kahn lay in bed.

Mar 2, 2021 10:18 AM CST

Suspended lawyer admits stealing from ex-wife, former mother-in-law by opening credit cards in their names

A suspended Pennsylvania lawyer pleaded guilty Monday to identity theft and related offenses for opening credit cards using the identities of his ex-wife and former mother-in-law.

Feb 24, 2021 9:50 AM CST