Practice News

The Illinois Supreme Court has announced the filing of disciplinary orders involving a number of licensed lawyers. Sanctions were imposed because the lawyers engaged in professional misconduct by violating state ethics law. More information on each case is available at the ARDC website.

DISBARRED

• Dave Ellis Compton, Chicago

Mr. Compton, who was licensed in 1991, was disbarred on consent. He pled guilty to bringing cannabis into a Cook County Criminal Court House detention area. He was suspended on an interim basis on July 9, 2010.

• Forrest David Laidley, Libertyville

Mr. Laidley, who was admitted in 1978, was disbarred on consent. He pled guilty in federal court to attempted mail fraud and bank fraud and was sentenced to serve 60 months in prison. He was suspended on an interim basis and until further order of the Court on December 28, 2010.

• Eric Tyrone Tolen, St. Louis, Mo.

Mr. Tolen, who was licensed in 1986, was disbarred on consent. He was convicted in Missouri on multiple counts of statutory sodomy and one count of victim tampering. He was sentenced to a 65-year term of imprisonment. Mr. Tolen was suspended on an interim basis on February 3, 2009.

• Bradford Francis Wisniewski, Chicago

Mr. Wisniewski, who was licensed in 1977, was disbarred. He misappropriated approximately $35,000 in client funds, neglected multiple client matters, failed to communicate with clients, did not return unearned fees and failed to cooperate with the ARDC. He did not appear at his disciplinary hearing.

[caption id="attachment_17174" align="alignright" width="150" caption="Jerold Solovy"][/caption] Former Jenner & Block chairman Jerold Solovy passed away Wednesday at the age of 80. Illinois Supreme Court Chief Justice Thomas L. Kilbride issued this statement on Solovy's passing: “We’ve lost one of the finest lawyers in the history of Illinois. If you say that, where do you stop the accolades.” Solovy began his career at Jenner in 1955 after graduating from Harvard Law. He became chairman in 1990 and was known for championing pro bono cases. Solovy also chaired the "Solovy Commission," which cleaned up the Cook County justice system after Operation Greylord. Read more about it in the Chicago Sun-Times, Chicago Tribune and Crain's Chicago Business. The Tribune also published an article on Solovy's legacy in 2007.

Judges, legislators and workers in the state's Department of Management Services have come under fire in Florida for the new 1st District Court of Appeals Courthouse in Tallahassee. The $50 million courthouse features African mahogany wood, granite countertops on desks and a 60-inch TV in the exercise room. There are also 15 kitchens - one for each judge. Click here to check out the new courthouse.

Your corporate client, LocalCorp, wants to borrow money. The lender needs certain assurances about LocalCorp before making the loan -- assurances supplied by you in the form of an opinion letter to the lender. Opinions provided to someone other than your client -- third-party opinions -- are important grease for the wheels of commerce. But "[l]awyers issuing these opinions encounter the risk of being sued...when fraud or other improper action by a transaction party [e.g., LocalCorp] arises after the transaction closes," writes Anthony J. Jacob in the latest issue of the ISBA's Corporations, Securities & Business Law newsletter. Fortunately, Anthony has prepared a handy checklist of things to consider before issuing a third-party opinion.