Illinois Supreme Court disbars 3 lawyers, suspends 12

The Illinois Supreme Court disbarred three lawyers, suspended 12 and censured three in its latest disciplinary filing Thursday. Most suspensions take effect on Feb. 11. More information on each case is available at the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission Web site.

DISBARRED

• Ann Maureen Day, LaFox

Ms. Day, who was licensed in 1989, was disbarred on consent. She was convicted in state court on charges of forgery and theft. The conviction was based on her having defrauded her former law partner by intercepting checks due to the law partnership and using the checks' proceeds for herself, or by drawing checks on the firm's accounts without her partner's knowledge. The total amount she took from the firm exceeded $137,000.

• Anthony A. Demasi, Chicago

Mr. Demasi, who was licensed in 2001, was disbarred. For several years, he operated a commodity trading pool. At some point, he began telling potential investors that the pool was profitable when, in fact, it had lost money and was closed. He induced at least 108 investors to give him more than $16,000,000 for the purpose of trading financial futures. Instead of using the funds he received for legitimate investments, he used the proceeds for personal purposes.

• Allen Barry Witz, New York, N.Y.

Mr. Witz, who was licensed in 1966, was disbarred. He conspired to commit securities fraud and engaged in conduct contrary to rules or regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. In the criminal case, he was sentenced to five years of probation, six months of electronic home monitoring, and was ordered to perform community service. Mr. Witz, who did not participate in his disciplinary hearing, was suspended on an interim basis on October 14, 2008.

SUSPENDED

• Dean Alan DeJong, Joliet

Mr. DeJong, who was licensed in 1986, was suspended for thirty days. He engaged in the unauthorized practice of law when he handled a number of different legal matters on behalf of clients, including multiple court appearances, after his name had been removed from the Master Roll for failing to register.

• Herb N. Elesh, Wheeling

Mr. Elesh, who was licensed in 1996, was suspended for three months and until he successfully completes a course offered by the Illinois Professional Responsibility Institute. He neglected a divorce case and an immigration matter.

• Donald Wayne Garlinger, Windfield

Mr. Garlinger, who was licensed in 1962, was suspended for six months. He neglected litigation involving a contract dispute and made misrepresentations to the client about the status of the matter for over twenty-seven years.

• Philip Andrew Igoe, Chicago

Mr. Igoe, who was licensed in 1977, was suspended for six months. He failed to diligently pursue a proceeding for disbursement of surplus funds arising from a foreclosure sale. He also was not candid to a judge and to his client regarding the proceeding, and he notarized, and filed with the court, an affidavit with a false date in connection with the matter.

• Craig Justin Katz, Buffalo Grove

Mr. Katz, who was licensed in 1981, was suspended for fifteen months and until he pays certain restitution. During a previous period of suspension from the practice of law for misconduct, he accepted a fee to represent a client. He also neglected a client matter, failed to keep his client informed of the status of the client's legal case and failed to promptly return unearned fees to his client.

• Clara L. Larry, Chicago

Ms. Larry, who was licensed in 1987, was suspended for sixty days and ordered to pay certain restitution. She neglected two clients' employment discrimination claims and failed to refund unearned fees.

• Jeffery Luckett, Homewood

Mr. Luckett, who was licensed in 1994, was suspended for two years with the suspension stayed after ninety days by a 24-month period of probation subject to conditions. While participating in the Juvenile Court Bar Attorney Program representing indigent respondents in juvenile justice and child protection matters in Cook County, he submitted inaccurate fee petitions and affidavits to courts in connection with that program.

• Thomas Joel Manning, Dayton, Ohio

Mr. Manning was admitted in Ohio in 1992 and in Illinois the following year. He is currently suspended in Illinois based upon on unrelated order of reciprocal discipline. The Supreme Court of Ohio suspended him for six months for commingling and converting client funds and for not being candid with a client. The Illinois Supreme Court imposed reciprocal discipline and suspended him for six months.

• Wendell Benjamin Sims, Chicago

Mr. Sims, who was licensed in 1988, was suspended for six months. He mismanaged funds of a decedent's estate. Further, he was not candid with a client about the status of those funds.

• Alfred S. Vano, Chicago

Mr. Vano, who was licensed in 1977, was suspended for one year with the last six months stayed by a six-month period of probation with conditions. He converted monies owed to two law firms at which he was employed.

• Roger Albert Weiler, Highland Park

Mr. Weiler, who was licensed in 1952, was suspended for one year. He purposefully failed to disclose assets in his own personal bankruptcy petitions.

• Fadi Zanayed, Hickory Hills

Mr. Zanayed, who was licensed in 1985, was suspended for two years. While representing a client in a dissolution of marriage matter, he forged and notarized the signatures of a third party on pleadings, made false statements to the court and to the ARDC, and attempted to obstruct an ARDC investigation by providing funds to a complaining witness.

CENSURED

• Frank Angarone, Elmwood Park

Mr. Angarone, who was licensed in 1977, was censured. He engaged in the unauthorized practice of law when he handled a number of different legal matters on behalf of clients, primarily residential real estate closings, after his name had been removed from the Master Roll for failing to register.

• Frank Eugene Jeffers, III, Wheaton

Mr. Jeffers, who was licensed in 1977, was censured and was directed to attend the professionalism seminar of the Illinois Professional Responsibility Institute. He represented both the buyer and the seller at a house closing, without advising either party that the representation created a conflict of interest.

• Paul John Maganzini, Oak Park

Mr. Maganzini, who was licensed in 1973, was censured. At the request of a former client, he improperly notarized the signature of the former client's wife on two Illinois Statutory Short Forms Power of Attorney for Property and a mortgage. He was unaware at the time that the documents were to be used by his former client to obtain loans without the wife's knowledge.