Supreme Court of Illinois Announces Disciplinary Decisions, March 19

Targeted News Service

SPRINGFIELD, Ill., May 19 -- The Attorney Registration & Disciplinary Commission of the Supreme Court of Illinois issued the following news release:

The Supreme Court of Illinois announced the filing of lawyer disciplinary orders on Friday, May 16, 2014, during the May Term of Court. Sanctions were imposed because the lawyers engaged in professional misconduct by violating state ethics law.

Attached please find a listing, in .pdf format, that contains the name of each disciplined lawyer, the community in which that lawyer last practiced, and a brief summary of the misconduct that led to the sanction. The complete announcement of orders may be reviewed at the Supreme Court of Illinois website: www.state.il.us/court. Unless otherwise noted, the mandate of discipline issued immediately.

The Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission (ARDC), an Illinois Supreme Court agency, investigates alleged wrongdoing by Illinois attorneys, holds hearings on specific charges, and recommends discipline where warranted. The Supreme Court is, however, the only authority that can discipline lawyers for misconduct. The Supreme Court generally announces lawyer sanction orders during each formal term of Court. The Court convenes in term every January, March, May, September and November.

There are approximately 94,000 licensed attorneys in Illinois. Yearly fees are imposed on most Illinois lawyers to fund the ARDC. There are no tax dollars used to support the disciplinary system.

The ARDC is composed of seven members, three of whom are non-lawyers. Attorney Joan M. Eagle is the Commission Chair. The ARDC Administrator is Jerome Larkin.

For additional information concerning these disciplinary orders contact:

James J. Grogan, Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission, Chicago.

312.565.2600 or 800.826.8625

The ARDC Website is: www.iardc.org

In re 'LANRE O. AMU, Attorney Number 6230736

407 South Dearborn, Suite 1550

Chicago, Illinois 60605

File information: M.R. 26545, 2011PR00106

Mr. Amu, who was licensed in Illinois in 1996, was suspended for three years and until further order of the Court. He made false statements about the integrity of several judges before whom he was representing different clients in litigation.

In re NICKOLAS BELOYEANNIS BELL,

Attorney Number 624502

1300 Jefferson Street, Suite 303

Des Plaines, Illinois 60016-7127

File Information: M.R. 26631, 2012PR00151

Mr. Bell, who was licensed in 1997, was suspended for two years and until further order of the Court. He filed frivolous pleadings in a client's forcible detainer action and neglected another client's matter, causing a judgment to be entered against the client for more than $200,000.

In re DAVID ANDRE BERTHA, Attorney Number 6277131

9242 Constance Avenue

Chicago, Illinois 60617-3624

File Information: M.R. 26678, 2012PR00098

Mr. Bertha, who was licensed in 2002, was suspended for one year and until further order of the Court, with the suspension stayed after four months by an eight-month period of probation subject to conditions. He converted $1,000 in earnest money that he was supposed to hold in relation to a real estate matter. The suspension is effective on June 6, 2014.

In re SAMUEL J. CAHNMAN, Attorney Number 3121596

915 South Second Street

Springfield, Illinois 62704-2701

File Information: M.R. 26517, 2009PR00118

Mr. Cahnman, who was licensed in 1978, was censured. He was found to have intentionally misled a judge about how he, Mr. Cahnman, had come into possession of a copy of a page of the judge's private calendar book.

In re MICHAEL NUNAN COOK, Attorney Number 6269564

10 Public Square

Belleville, Illinois 62220-1623

File Information: M.R. 26702, 2013PR00035

Mr. CookCircuit Court Judge. He was sentenced to serve a 24-month prison sentence. He was suspended on an interim basis on July 15, 2013.

In re RUFUS LYNWOOD COOK, Attorney Number 509302

7411 South Stony Island Avenue

Chicago, Illinois 60649-3613

File Information: M.R. 26581, 2010PR00106

Mr. Cook, who was licensed in 1959, was disbarred. He represented both the buyers and the seller in a transaction in which he had a personal interest. He also failed to disclose to the buyers, who lost their entire investment, about his financial arrangement with the sellers and his receipt of half of the money paid by the buyers to the seller. He was suspended on an interim basis on August 19, 2013.

In re Michael E. Fleck, Attorney Number 6281770

1S443 Summit Avenue, Suite 304B

Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois 60181-3989

File Information: M.R. 26684, 2011PR00054

Mr. Fleck, who was licensed in 2004, was suspended for one year and until further order of the Court. He entered into an improper partnership with a non-lawyer, with whom Mr. Fleck operated a loan modification business and shared legal fees. He also assigned client matters to another attorney without client consent.

In re THERESE CESAR GARZA, Attorney Number 6180720

69 West Washington Street, 17th Floor

Chicago, Illinois 60602-3036

File Information: M.R. 26657, 2012PR00035

Ms. Garza, who was licensed in 1981, was suspended for ninety days. She failed to communicate plea offers to three criminal defense clients, revealed confidential information relating to three clients, and engaged in several episodes of making comments or engaging in behavior that disrupted a tribunal. The suspension is effective on June 6, 2014.

In re CHRISTINA GILBERT-MANUEL,

Attorney Number 6280544

1501 East Oak Street, Suite 1

Mahomet, Illinois 61853

File Information: M.R. 26612, 2013PR00093

Ms. Gilbert-Manuel, who was licensed in 2003, was censured for paying approximately $30,000 to a non-attorney financial planner for referring estate planning clients to her.

In re KENNETH ALAN GOLDMAN, Attorney Number 6272290

3505 West Howard Street

Skokie, Illinois 60076-4012

File Information: M.R. 26708, 2014PR00013

Mr. Goldman, who was licensed in 2000, was disbarred on consent. He filed a false affidavit with the Supreme Court of Illinois in connection with a previous disciplinary case. He claimed to have notified clients that he had been suspended from the practice of law and attached copies of letters that he asserted had been sent to the clients. In fact, the actual letters he sent to his clients contained incomplete or misleading information about his inability to continue to represent them in cases and did not advise the clients of the Court's order suspending him from the practice of law.

In re SANDOR LEWIS GROSSMAN, Attorney Number 6237228

737 West Washington Boulevard, Apartment 1001

Chicago, Illinois 60661-2183

File Information: M.R. 26659, 2013PR00087

Mr. Grossman, who was licensed in 1996, was suspended for one year and until further order of the Court. While representing a client in a securities arbitration matter, he misappropriated over $5,000 in settlement funds belonging to his client. He has yet to make restitution to that client.

In re TERRY W. HUEBNER, Attorney Number 6210883

28 West Hinsdale Avenue

Hinsdale, Illinois 60521-4106

File Information: M.R. 26649, 2011PR00129

Mr. Huebner, who was licensed in 1992, was disbarred. He misappropriated $100,000 in escrow proceeds. He was suspended on an interim basis on October 8, 2013.

In re BRADFORD E. HUNT, Attorney Number 6182814

602 East Broadway

Alton, Illinois 62002-6305

File Information: M.R. 26677, 2013PR00054

Mr. Hunt, who was licensed in 1982, was disbarred on consent. He failed to comply with a court order directing him to deposit $60,000 in client funds into a client trust account and used the funds for his own purposes. He then failed to file annual accountings as required by the court. He also improperly entered into an agreement with his client in order to limit his malpractice liability. Finally, Mr. Hunt represented clients after he had been removed from the Master Roll of Attorneys as a result of his failure to register and pay his 2013 registration fee.

In re TIMOTHY JOHN HUYETT</person>, Attorney Number 6193183

750 Ninth Street

Carlyle, Illinois 62231-1440

File Information: M.R. 26681, 2013PR00123

Mr. Huyett, who was licensed in 1986, was suspended for sixty days. He had sexual relations with a client and then made misrepresentations to two judges and to the ARDC regarding those relations. The suspension is effective on June 6, 2014.

In re STACY ANN IGOE, Attorney Number 6209783

35 East Wacker Drive, 9th Floor

Chicago, Illinois 60601-2314

File Number: M.R. 26685, 2013PR00041

Ms. Igoe, who was licensed in Illinois in 1992, was suspended for nine months, effective June 6, 2014. She pled guilty to contempt of court in connection with the filing of a client's Chapter 7 bankruptcy petition. She electronically signed and filed the petition knowing that it contained a fraudulent statement. She was suspended on an interim basis on August 20, 2013.

In re KARL ALFRED JOHNSON, Attorney Number 6243193

2254 Greenview Road

Northbrook, Illinois 60062-6631

File Number: M.R. 26608, 2013PR00038

Mr. Johnson, who was licensed in Illinois in 1997, was disbarred. He neglected two civil matters, fabricated court orders, made misrepresentations and failed to cooperate with the investigations of his conduct or appear at his disciplinary hearing.

In re BRUCE LESLIE JORGENSEN, Attorney Number 6192582

134 North LaSalle Street, Suite 1760

Chicago, Illinois 60602-1005

File Information: M.R. 26617, 2012PR00113

Mr. Jorgensen, who was licensed in 1986, was suspended for two years and until further order of Court. He pled guilty to a number of criminal acts, including violating orders of protection, causing criminal damage to government-owned GPS monitoring devices and aggravated assault of a probation officer.

In re DODIE LEANN JUNKERT, Attorney Number 6244587

Post Office Box 244

309 West Washington

Clinton, Illinois 61727-0244

File Information: M.R. 26634, 2012PR00154

Ms. Junkert, who was licensed in 1998, was suspended for one year and until further order of the Court. She failed to deposit client funds advanced for payment of anticipated filing and other fees into her client trust account, and failed to prepare and maintain ledgers, journals, reconciliation reports, and other records pertaining to her handling of client funds. She had been previously disciplined for similar conduct.

In re MARLIN E. KIRBY, Attorney Number 6203394

675 Lake Street, Suite 136

Oak Park, Illinois 60301-1473

File Information: M.R. 26679, 2010PR00098

Mr. Kirby, who was licensed in 1990, was suspended for one year, with the suspension stayed after six months by a one-year term of conditional probation. He misused money that a client had given him to pay an appearance fee, neglected another client's matter, failed to communicate with three clients, did not return one client's papers, and initially failed to cooperate with the ARDC. The suspension is effective on June 6, 2014.

In re JOSEPH HENRY MARTIN, Attorney Number 6226946

Post Office Box 369

Keshena, Wisconsin 54135-0369

File Information: M.R. 26610, 2011PR00048

Mr. Martin, who was licensed in 1995, was suspended for six months, ordered to complete the ARDC Professionalism Seminar, and must pay any outstanding judgments, orders for fees and costs, and contempt fines arising out of his misconduct. He filed three frivolous lawsuits, communicated directly with parties he knew to be represented by counsel, and threatened to present a professional disciplinary allegation against another attorney to force that attorney to withdraw from representing the opposing party in civil litigation. The suspension is effective on June 6, 2014.

In re CYNTHIA ANN MILLER, Attorney Number 6208335

Post Office Box 594

Hinsdale, Illinois 60522-0594

File Information: M.R. 26705, 2013PR00008

Ms. Miller, who was licensed in 1991, was suspended for ninety days. She neglected three civil matters and provided a client with inaccurate billing statements that mistakenly overbilled for certain actions. The suspension is effective on June 6, 2014.

In re JOSEPH MARIO MORENO, Attorney Number 3123504

111 West Washingon Street, Ste. 1010

Chicago, Illinois 60602-2705

File Information: M.R. 26666, 2014PR00029

Mr. Moreno, who was licensed in 1979, was disbarred on consent. He was convicted in federal court of conspiracy to commit extortion. While serving as a Cook County Commissioner, he sought kickbacks from various vendors. Over a three-year period, he also misreported the income from his law office on federal income tax forms. He was sentenced to serve a 132-month prison term followed by two years of supervised release, was ordered to forfeit $100,000, and must pay $134,192 in restitution.

In re NICOLE HEATHER RODRIGUEZ,

Attorney Number 6281530

18146 Idlewild Drive

Country Club Hills, Illinois 60478-5124

File Information: M.R. 26591, 2012PR00169

Ms. Rodriguez, who was licensed in 2003, was censured. While representing parties in real estate transactions, she failed to hold funds belonging to clients and third parties separate from her own property.

In re ROBERT MICHAEL ROTHSTEIN,

Attorney Number 6186667

36 West Randolph Drive, Suite 800

Chicago, Illinois 60601-3510

File Information: M.R. 26703, 2013PR00136

Mr. Rothstein, who was licensed in 1984, was censured and ordered to attend the ARDC Professionalism Seminar. He aided his brother-in-law, a suspended lawyer, in the unauthorized practice of law by allowing the suspended lawyer to participate in three real estate transactions, negotiate with opposing counsel, and modify contracts. He also shared $1,300 in fees with his brother-in-law.

In re FRANK ANTHONY SANTILLI, Attorney Number 6200283

111 West Washington Street, Suite 1240

Chicago, Illinois 60602-2706

File Information: M.R. 26572, 2012PR00029

Mr. Santilli, who was licensed in 1989, was suspended for six months, with the suspension stayed after thirty days by a two-year period of conditional probation. He used client settlement funds for his own business purposes and delayed returning the funds to one of the clients. He also failed to pursue an EEOC claim for a client. Finally, he advanced financial assistance to a client and later deducted the advance from her worker's compensation settlement, but did not disclose the deduction in a lump sum settlement contract filed with the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission. The suspension is effective on June 6, 2014.

In re MARK DAVID SINGER, Attorney Number 6273059

One West Superior Street, Suite 902

Chicago, Illinois 60654-8811

File Information: M.R. 26655, 2014PR00026

Mr. Singer, who was licensed in 2000, was disbarred on consent. He accepted proceeds from a homeowner's insurance policy on property that he owned in Muskegon Heights, Michigan, without disclosing his knowledge that certain third parties had intentionally set the fire that had destroyed the property.

In re CHRISTOPHER EDWARD STOUT,

Attorney Number 6243967

5344 Waterview Drive

North Port, Florida 34291-8031

File Information: M.R. 26662, 2010PR00135

Mr. Stout, who was licensed in 1997, was suspended for two years and until further order of the Court. He committed criminal acts by possessing and using cannabis, cocaine, crack cocaine, and heroin. He also committed two batteries and resisted a police officer.

In re JOHN A. VASSEN, Attorney Number 6189245

1801 North Belt W

Belleville, Illinois 62226-8201

File Information: M.R. 26616, 2014PR00016

Mr. Vassen, who was licensed in 1985, was disbarred on consent. He pled guilty to violating the Sherman Anti-Trust Act in a case filed by federal prosecutors in the United States District Court, Southern District of Illinois. He engaged in a scheme to rig bids and fix prices at Illinois tax lien auctions.

In re BRUCE MICHAEL WAMBOLDT,

Attorney Number 6183397

6348 North Milwaukee Avenue, Suite 210

Chicago, Illinois 60646-3752

File Information: M.R. 26643, 2013PR00056

Mr. Wamboldt, who was licensed in 1982, was suspended for two years and until further order of the Court. He failed to file numerous collection law suits for which he had received advance cost payments from his client. Without his client's knowledge or consent, he used more than $16,000 of the advanced costs for his own business and personal purposes. He also made false statements to the ARDC during the course of the disciplinary investigation.

In re RICHARD STEWART ZACHARY,

Attorney Number 6197914

2117 West Grand Avenue

Chicago, Illinois 60612-1503

File Information: M.R. 26641, 2012PR00177

Mr. Zachary, who was licensed in 1988, was disbarred. He neglected four separate client matters. In addition, he submitted false documents to a court, which resulted in his disbarment from the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois</org>.

The Following Order was Entered by the Court Prior to the May 2014 Term but was not Included in any Previous Information Release

In re THOMAS WILLIAM MURPHY, Attorney Number 1998404

70 West Madison Street, Suite 1400

Chicago, Illinois 60602

File Information: M.R. 26609, 2010PR00114

(Order entered on May 12, 2014)

Mr. Murphy, who was licensed in 1977, was suspended on an interim basis and until further order of the Court. An ARDC Hearing Board concluded that he had misappropriated $296,453 in trust funds, misappropriated another $325,000 in funds from two real estate transactions, and engaged in a conflict of interest.

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