Ethics Scorecard: July decisions from the Minnesota Supreme Court

Benched

Bengston-Lang, Rachel Elizabeth: Respondent is transferred to disability inactive status.

Fischer, Brian Campbell: Respondent’s conditional reinstatement is revoked and he is indefinitely suspended.  Respondent may apply for reinstatement with proof that he  has received a passing score on the subject of professional responsibility.

Eichhorn-Hicks, Tracy:  Respondent is suspended with no right to petition for reinstatement for 120 days for failing to communicate a plea offer to a client and  signing his client’s name on a medical-records release form, falsely claiming to have witnessed the client’s signature, and then presenting the signed release to a third party.

In re Charges of Unprofessional Conduct in Pane File 41755: A panel of the Lawyers Professional Responsibility Board did not clearly err by finding that appellant attorney communicated about a litigated matter with a party whom he knew was then represented by another attorney in the case. A private admonition is the appropriate discipline.

Fischer, Brian Campbell: Respondent’s conditional reinstatement is revoked and he is indefinitely suspended.  Respondent may apply for reinstatement with proof that he  has received a passing score on the subject of professional responsibility.

Fox, Kristi Ann: Respondent is transferred to disability inactive status.

Lockwood, Mary Elizabeth: Lockwood is suspended with no right to petition for reinstatement for six months for failing to safeguard clients’ funds, failing to timely refund to a client funds advanced for an expense that was not incurred, negligently misappropriating a client’s funds, and failing to provide receipts signed by a payor for cash payments.

Mohan, Laurel: Respondent is suspended with no right to apply for reinstatement for 18 months for, while acting as the executive director of a non-profit organization, misappropriating client funds to satisfy the organization’s financial obligations and failing to maintain the required trust account books and records for the organization.

Nwaneri, Patrick Chinedu: Respondent’s motion to extend the time to successfully complete the professional responsibility exam is denied and his conditional reinstatement is revoked. He is indefinitely suspended.

Suited up

Brantingham, Jeremy Lloyd: Respondent is reinstated to the practice of law subject to probation until May 21, 2019,