Illinois Supreme Court Disbars 2, Suspends 10 in Latest Disciplinary Filing

The Illinois Supreme Court announced the filing of lawyer disciplinary orders on May 23, 2024. Sanctions were imposed because the lawyers engaged in professional misconduct by violating state ethics law.

Disbarred

Jason Russel Caraway, Belleville

Mr. Caraway, who was licensed in 2007, was disbarred. He misappropriated more than $375,000 belonging to six different clients, including funds that were to be used for the benefit of a disabled adult and minor children. He also failed to refund a $3,500 unearned fee and made misrepresentations to a client in a separate breach of contract matter.

Steven Messner, Northfield

Mr. Messner, who was licensed in 1978, was disbarred. Over a period of more than five years, he assisted his corporate client and its owner in committing tax fraud by hiding his clients’ taxable income from taxing authorities. He also hid his clients’ income from the attorney who represented the client’s wife in the owner’s ongoing dissolution of marriage case.

Suspended

Susan Marie Bryan, Carol Stream

Ms. Bryan was licensed in Illinois in 1992 and in Indiana in 2001. The Indiana Supreme Court suspended her for a period of not less than 180 days, without automatic reinstatement. She neglected to file a bankruptcy petition for a client, falsely told the client she had filed the petition, and did not return the client’s file or refund any unearned fees. Ms. Bryan also produced to Indiana disciplinary authorities several letters that she claimed to have sent to her client, the contents of which were inconsistent with the written communications the client had received from her. The Illinois Supreme Court imposed reciprocal discipline and suspended her for six months and until further order of the Court. A suspension until further order of the Court is an indefinite suspension which requires the suspended lawyer to petition for reinstatement after the fixed period of suspension ends. Reinstatement is not automatic and must be allowed by the Supreme Court of Illinois following a hearing before the ARDC Hearing Board.

Brian Thomas Dailey, Grosse Point, MI

Mr. Dailey, who was licensed in 1989, was suspended on an interim basis and until further order of the Court based on allegations in a pending disciplinary action that he dishonestly misappropriated more than $700,000 from numerous clients in various types of legal matters and failed to respond to lawful demands for information from the ARDC.

Robby S. Fakhouri, Chicago

Mr. Fakhouri, who was licensed in 2014, was suspended for three years and until further order of the Court, with the suspension stayed after two years by one year of probation with conditions. He misappropriated a total of $281,152 that he was holding for clients and third parties in connection with the settlement of 13 personal injury matters. The suspension is effective on June 13, 2024.

Lewis Steven Goldblatt, Gilroy, CA

Mr. Goldblatt was licensed in California in 1979 and in Illinois in 1980. The Supreme Court of California suspended him for one year, with the suspension stayed after 120 days by an eight-month term of probation after he was convicted of creating a public nuisance and using offensive words. Mr. Goldblatt was arrested for masturbating in his yard in view of a neighbor. Because Mr. Goldblatt is currently suspended from the practice of law in Illinois for prior misconduct, the Supreme Court of Illinois imposed reciprocal discipline and required him to demonstrate that he has successfully completed the terms of his California probation before seeking reinstatement to the practice of law in Illinois.

Leila Louise Hale, Henderson, NV

Ms. Hale was licensed in Nevada in 2000 and in Illinois in 2013. Nevada disciplinary authorities publicly reprimanded her for a conflict of interest arising from her personal relationship with a physician she employed as an expert in three personal injury cases and for paying that physician for services from her trust account even though she did not have the appropriate clients’ funds in the account. The Supreme Court of Illinois suspended Ms. Hale for 30 days in light of her two prior instances of reciprocal discipline in Illinois. The suspension is effective on June 13, 2024.

Mark David Kehoskie, Chicago

Mr. Kehoskie, who was licensed in 2006, was suspended for six months, with the suspension stayed in its entirety by a two-year period of conditional probation. Between 2015 and 2019, Mr. Kehoskie was involved in three incidents in which he was charged with domestic battery and other offenses. One of the criminal charges was dismissed after completion of a diversion program. In the other two matters, Mr. Kehoskie pled guilty to a reduced charge of disorderly conduct and was placed on probation.

Gregory Michael Nordt, Plantation, FL

Mr. Nordt was licensed in Illinois in 2013 and in Florida in 1995. The Supreme Court of Florida suspended him for three years and required him to participate in the recovery program offered by Florida Lawyers Assistance, Inc., arising from his conviction for leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident involving personal injuries. The Supreme Court of Illinois imposed reciprocal discipline and suspended him for three years and until he is reinstated to the practice of law in Florida. The suspension is effective on June 13, 2024.

Chinyere Alex Ogoke, Chicago

Mr. Ogoke, who was licensed in 2005, was suspended on an interim basis and until further order of the Court. He is the subject of a 12-count disciplinary complaint alleging that, after the Board of Immigration Appeals suspended him from practicing before the Board, the Immigration Courts, and the Department of Homeland Security, he filed notices of appearance on behalf of 11 immigration clients falsely stating that he was not then the subject of any order suspending or otherwise restricting him in the practice of law, and that he subsequently represented the 11 clients in their immigration matters.

Gregory Oltman, Bloomington

Mr. Oltman, who was licensed in 1986, was suspended for three years and until further order of the Court. He misappropriated approximately $31,000 in settlement funds in three subrogation matters; neglected four additional subrogation matters, which caused them to be dismissed for want of prosecution; and did not inform the clients of the dismissals or respond to their requests for information. A suspension until further order of the Court is an indefinite suspension which requires the suspended lawyer to petition for reinstatement after the fixed period of suspension ends. Reinstatement is not automatic and must be allowed by the Supreme Court of Illinois following a hearing before the ARDC Hearing Board.

Wesley C. Zaba, Downers Grove

Mr. Zaba, who was licensed in 2010, was suspended for 60 days. He incorporated a mortgage company in 2015, which required him to submit annual financial statements to the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. For the years 2017 through 2022, he submitted financial statements that he falsely claimed had been prepared or audited by an accountant. The suspension is effective on June 13, 2024.

Censured 

Sami Ziad Azhari, Chicago

Mr. Azhari, who was licensed in 2007, was censured by the Court. He represented a client who was charged with telephone harassment in a criminal case and, while the representation was ongoing, he engaged in a sexual relationship with the client.

Reprimanded

James Douglas Cottrell, Champaign

Mr. Cottrell, who was licensed in 1983, was reprimanded. He purchased a retiring attorney’s law practice and accepted the responsibility to distribute $2,902 that was held in that attorney’s trust account and that belonged to various third parties associated with cases involving the retiring attorney’s law practice. He deposited those funds into his own trust account but later knowingly used the funds for his own benefit.