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
- John Lansing Isaac, Littleton, Colo.
Mr. Isaac, who was licensed in 1973, was disbarred on consent. He neglected several patent applications, made misrepresentations to clients and to the United States Patent and Trademark Office, and engaged in the unauthorized practice of law.
- Gerald John Jansen, Santa Ana, Calif.
Mr. Jansen, who was licensed in 2005, was disbarred on consent. Prior to his admission to practice law in Illinois, he engaged in the unauthorized practice of law when he and a California lawyer opened a law office in Chicago and proceeded to represent about 100 clients with cases before the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission.
- Gary Lynn Kaplan, San Anselmo, Calif.
Mr. Kaplan, who was licensed in 1972, was disbarred on consent. He represented Pepperdine University in collecting funds on delinquent accounts receivable. He collected delinquent funds and deposited those funds into his client trust account, but he did not notify Pepperdine that he had received the funds nor did he remit any portion of the proceeds to the school. Without Pepperdine’s authorization, he used at least $39,774.49 of the funds for his own business or personal purposes.
Mr. Kavvadias, who was licensed in 1984, was disbarred on consent for failing to comply with a prior order of lawyer discipline. He also neglected client matters, engaged in conduct involving misrepresentation, failed to promptly return unearned fees and engaged in the unauthorized practice in a driver’s license reinstatement matter.
- Tom George Kontos, La Jolla, Calif.
Mr. Kontos, who was licensed in 1966, was disbarred on consent. He pled guilty of conspiring to obstruct a federal investigation into money laundering and drug trafficking.
Mr. Nemoy, who was licensed in 1978, was disbarred on consent. He misappropriated a total of $165,499.76 from fifteen different clients.
- Michael Nicholas Skoubis, Chicago
Mr. Skoubis, who was licensed in 1985, was disbarred. He neglected nine different client matters, failed to refund unearned fees to clients, and did not cooperate with the ARDC investigation. He failed to appear at his own disciplinary hearing. He was suspended on an interim basis on November 1, 2010.
Mr. Tuzzolino, who was licensed in Illinois in 1991, was disbarred on consent. He neglected several client matters, misrepresented the status of cases to his clients, and delivered $9,000 in NSF checks to his office landlord.
SUSPENDED