Illinois Supreme Court Disbars 2, Suspends 3 in Latest Disciplinary Filing

The Illinois Supreme Court announced the filing of lawyer disciplinary orders on November 21, 2023. Sanctions were imposed because the lawyers engaged in professional misconduct by violating state ethics law.

Disbarred

Richard M. Ruggiero, Oak Park

Mr. Ruggiero, who was licensed in 1992, was disbarred. He dishonestly misappropriated $291,944 in trust assets while acting as trustee for his deceased aunt’s trust.

Jaime Teodoro Zeas, Bethesda, MD

Mr. Zeas was licensed to practice in New York in 2003 and in Illinois in 2006. In July 2019, the Supreme Court of New York entered an order disbarring him based on his felony conviction for child pornography. The Supreme Court of Illinois imposed reciprocal discipline and disbarred him.

Suspended

Kenese Lashea Dowdy, Chicago

Ms. Dowdy, who was licensed in 2018, was suspended for six months and until further order of the Court, with the suspension stayed after 30 days in favor of a one-year period of conditional probation. Following her removal from the roll of attorneys for failing to comply with Minimum Continuing Legal Education requirements, she did not inform her clients about her removal, terminate her representation, or refund unearned fees to her clients. The suspension is effective on December 12, 2023.

Daniel Lawrence Peters, Chicago

Mr. Peters, who was licensed in 1991, was suspended for 90 days. He pled no contest to a charge of soliciting for prostitution. He thereafter made a false statement to the ARDC regarding the circumstances of his arrest. The suspension is effective on December 12, 2023.

Jeffrey Bruce Steinback, Roscoe

Mr. Steinback, who was licensed in 1977, was suspended for 30 days. While representing a defendant in a federal criminal case in Iowa, he allowed his legal assistant to file a motion seeking to continue a sentencing hearing based on false statements that Mr. Steinback could not attend the hearing because he had been treated at an emergency room and had been advised not to travel for the next four to seven days. Mr. Steinback failed to correct the false statements of material fact made in the motion. The suspension is effective on December 12, 2023.