Illinois Supreme Court Disbars 3, Suspends 4 in Latest Disciplinary Filing

The Illinois Supreme Court announced the filing of lawyer disciplinary orders on May 16, 2023. Sanctions were imposed because the lawyers engaged in professional misconduct by violating state ethics law.

Disbarred

Bennet Berliner, Chicago

Mr. Berliner, who was licensed in 2005, was disbarred. He misappropriated more than $198,000 in escrow funds from five clients and used the money for his own purposes or to replace funds he took from other clients. He also made false statements to the ARDC and subsequently refused to cooperate with the ARDC’s investigation.  

Helga Kahr, Seattle, Washington

Ms. Kahr, who was licensed to practice law in Illinois in 1974, was disbarred after having been convicted of two counts of theft in the state of Washington and sentenced to 18 months in prison. She misappropriated more than $280,000 from a disabled person while serving as his guardian. 

Michael Allen Lancaster, Sterling

Mr. Lancaster, who was licensed in 1981, was disbarred. He was convicted of battery for making physical and sexual contact with a female client while she was in his law office.  

Suspended

George Louis Acosta, St. Charles

Mr. Acosta, who was licensed in 1989, was suspended for one year. He misappropriated $86,912 of client funds to his own benefit, including $39,000 that a court had ordered him to safeguard for a client who was a minor. The suspension is effective on June 6, 2023. 

Tara Marie Grimm, South Elgin

Ms. Grimm, who was licensed in 2007, was suspended for one year and until further order of the Court. While working for a transportation company, she failed to diligently handle a matter and made false statements to her manager about her purported work on four matters. While later working for a law firm, she made false statements to the firm about her work and used the firm’s credit card without authority for personal purchases totaling almost $2,000. 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. 

Matthew Eric Peek, Champaign

Mr. Peek, who was licensed in 2013, was suspended for six months and until he makes restitution or provides proof of a settlement with his former clients and consistent compliance with the terms of any such settlement. In two matters, he failed to act with reasonable diligence and did not communicate with his clients. He also failed to promptly deliver 13 garnishment checks owed to a client or respond to the client’s inquiries about the checks. Finally, he made gratuitous comments of a sexual nature to opposing counsel and a paralegal in a domestic relations matter. The suspension is effective on June 6, 2023.  

Raed A. Shalabi, Orland Park

Mr. Shalabi, who was licensed in 2006, was suspended for 60 days and required to complete the ARDC Professionalism Seminar within one year of the Court’s order of discipline. He entered into a business transaction with clients without obtaining the clients’ informed consent and without advising them to seek independent counsel. He also filed pleadings for a client in a federal court where he was not licensed to practice and then, before refunding fees, had the client sign a document agreeing not to file a disciplinary complaint against him. The suspension is effective on June 6, 2023.  

Reprimanded

Sean Christopher Ziadeh, Farmington, Michigan 

Mr. Ziadeh was licensed in Michigan in 2002 and in Illinois in 2005. A Michigan Attorney Discipline Board reprimanded him for operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated. The Supreme Court of Illinois imposed reciprocal discipline and reprimanded him. 

Censured

James P. Ginzkey, Bloomington

Mr. Ginzkey, who was licensed in 1979, was censured. In the course of representing a client in a medical malpractice matter, he knowingly provided privileged documents to an expert witness in violation of a court order. 

Kevin Patrick Wendorf, Glen Ellyn

Mr. Wendorf, who was licensed in 2005, was censured. He was found guilty of one count of battery based on his groping a woman who came to his law office to discuss a criminal case in which he was representing her.