Intent Found, Suspension Proposed

An Illinois Hearing Board has recommended a one-year suspension of an attorney found to have schemed with a divorce client to cheat his spouse out of her share of the marital estate. The  board found that:

during his marital dissolution proceedings, Mr. Seleman [the client] was ordered by the court to sell a piece of property from the marital estate. Respondent agreed to execute a lien form that reflected Respondent was owed money for services he provided relating to the property when in fact no such services were rendered. Respondent ultimately received $50,000 from the sale of the property and subsequently tendered $45,000 back to Mr. Seleman.

The proposed sanction takes account of significant character evidence but also considers the accused attorney's incredible denials of any fraudulent intent. (Mike Frisch)