In re ANTHONY F. ALBERGO, Attorney Number 3123136
1776 South Naperville Road, Suite 201, Building A
Wheaton, Illinois  60187-8133

File Information: M.R. 22738, 07 CH 113

  Mr. Albergo, who was licensed in 1979, was suspended for three years.  He converted $50,000 in connection with his representation of a client in a criminal case. He also failed to take prompt legal action on behalf of a client, made misrepresentations to that client, and misappropriated filing costs in an expungement matter.  The suspension is effective on February 10, 2009.

In re KARRIS A. BILAL, Attorney Number 6271954
150 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 2800
Chicago, Illinois 60601-7586

File Information: M.R. 22687, 05 CH 87

  Mr. Bilal, who was licensed in 2000, was suspended for eighteen months and until he completes the Illinois Professional Responsibility course. He failed to disclose an arrest for attempting to solicit a sex act on his application for admission to the Illinois bar.  He also represented his step-mother in a seeking a guardianship over the elderly client and took positions that were materially adverse to the former client’s best interests. The suspension is effective on February 10, 2009.

In re NICKOLAS BLIAZOS BLASE, Attorney Number 225746
8074 North Milwaukee Avenue
Niles, Illinois 60714

File Information: M.R. 22843, 08 DC 1009

  Mr. Blase, who was licensed in 1951, was disbarred on consent. He was convicted in federal court of mail fraud and filing a false tax return. As Mayor of Niles, Illinois, he engaged in a conspiracy to force local businesses to utilize the services of an insurance company owned by a friend of his and he received illegal payments in exchange for steering the business to his friend’s company.

In re RONALD A. BREDEMANN, Attorney Number 286451
5016 North Oak
Crystal Lake, Illinois 60012

File Information: M.R. 22793, 05 CH 102

  Mr. Bredemann, who was licensed in 1973, was suspended for two years and until further order of the Court. He practiced before the United States Court of Appeals for the 7^th Circuit while his license to practice there was suspended. He also forged the name of an attorney on pleadings to mislead that court. He was disciplined on two prior occasions.

In re KARINA K. COMBES, Attorney Number 6255772
102 East Main, Suite 400
Urbana, Illinois 61801-2734

File Information: M.R. 22731, 08 SH 20

  Ms. Combes, who was licensed in 1998, was suspended for six months and until further order of the Court. She neglected four client matters, failed to promptly return unearned fees in two of those matters, and closed her office without notifying clients. She also failed to participate in the disciplinary proceedings.

In re RICHARD A. CURRENT, Attorney Number 3122287
636 South McClellan Street
Decatur, Illinois 62522-2734

File information: M.R. 22811, 08 SH 34

  Mr. Current, who was licensed in 1978, was censured. While employed as an Assistant Macon County State’s Attorney, he made an improper closing argument in a first degree murder trial of two defendants. Although the defendants were convicted of murder, the convictions were reversed due to the misconduct.

In re JOHN ANTHONY DEANGELIS, Attorney Number 6210294
8820 Skokie Boulevard, Number 248
Skokie, Illinois 60077-2224

File Information: M.R. 22857, 07 CH 126

  Mr. Deangelis, who was licensed in 1992, was suspended for one year.  He converted $6,582 from a client and $12,500 from his former law firm employer. The suspension is effective on February 10, 2009.

In re JANE M. FEENEY, Attorney Number 6192312
605 West Madison Street, Number 2707
Chicago, Illinois  60661-2441

File Information: M.R. 22697, 07 CH 89

  Ms. Feeney, who was licensed in 1986, was suspended for six months and until further order of the Court. She neglected a probate matter, failed to communicate with the administrator of the estate, and failed to cooperate with the ARDC investigation. She did not appear at her disciplinary hearing.

In re ROBERT SCOTT HACKETT, Attorney Number 6239447
Post Office Box 3514
Grand Rapids, Michigan 49501-3514

File Information: M.R. 22812, 08 RC 1512

  Mr. Hackett was licensed in Michigan in 1995 and in Illinois in 1997. He was suspended in Michigan for two years after he was convicted of converting public monies. He submitted false travel reimbursement requests to his employer, the Office of the Federal Public Defender. The Supreme Court of Illinois imposed reciprocal discipline and suspended him for two years and until he is reinstated in Michigan. He was suspended on an interim basis in Illinois on September 21, 2007. The suspension is effective on February 10, 2009.

In re ALAN VICTOR HANSON, Attorney Number 3123808
7151 West Gunnison Street, Suite 104
Harwood Heights, Illinois 60706-3834

File Information: M.R. 22742, 08 CH 16

  Mr. Hanson, who was licensed in 1979, was disbarred. He converted client settlement funds and neglected a workers’ compensation matter. He also abandoned his law practice. He failed to participate in the disciplinary proceeding.

In re RAYMOND XAVIER HENEHAN, Attorney Number 1188097
1603 Burning Oak Trail
Barrington Hills, Illinois 60010-9059

File Information: M.R. 22746, 07 CH 64

  Mr. Henehan, who was licensed in 1976, was disbarred. He misappropriated almost $100,000 in client funds and neglected a client’s bankruptcy matter. 

In re JOHN WILLIAM KEARNS, Attorney Number 6205537
Post Office Box 476846
Chicago, Illinois 60647-6846

File information: M.R. 22840, 07 CH 42

  Mr. Kearns, who was licensed in 1991, was disbarred. He made false statements and filed back-dated documents with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services Administrative Appeals Unit. He also represented a client in a criminal matter while he was suspended from practicing law for unrelated misconduct.

In re ROBERT DAVID KENT, Attorney Number 6219111
427 Elm Street, Unit 5I
Deerfield, Illinois 60015

File Information: M.R. 22740, 08 CH 39

  Mr. Kent, who was licensed in 1994, was suspended for thirty days for failing to preserve the identity of approximately $1,500.00 in escrow funds in a dissolution of marriage case. The suspension is effective on February 10, 2009.

In Re Mark Steven Kipnis, Attorney Number 1470272
889 South Randall Road
Elgin, Illinois 60123-3002

File Information: M.R. 22745, 08 CH 25

  Mr. Kipnis, who was licensed in 1974, was disbarred on consent. While employed as general counsel to Hollinger International, he created illusory non-compete agreements as part of a scheme to disguise kickbacks to management employees and officers of Hollinger. He was convicted in federal court of mail fraud, and he was sentenced to five years of probation, with six months of home detention.

In re DONALD DAVID KNUCKEY, Attorney Number 1494597
404 Edward Street
Henry, Illinois 61537-1504

File Information: M.R. 22794, 08 SH 36

  Mr. Knuckey, who was licensed in 1973, was suspended for one year and until further order of the Court.  He pled guilty to charges of driving under the influence of alcohol on three separate occasions. He failed to appear at his disciplinary hearing.

In re LOWELL THOMAS LAKIN, Attorney number 1561464
 Post Office Box 240
East Alton, Illinois 62024-0240

File Information: M.R. 22842, 08 DC 1008

  Mr. Lakin, who was licensed in 1970, was disbarred on consent. He was convicted in federal court of knowingly using and maintaining his residence for the purpose of distributing and using a controlled substance, a mixture containing cocaine. He was sentenced to serve a 72-month prison term, followed by six years of supervised release.

In re JEFFREY DALE LANGE, Attorney Number 6230725
33 South State Street, Eighth Floor
Chicago, Illinois 60603

File Information: M.R. 22739, 08 CH 40

  Mr. Lange, who was licensed in 1996, was suspended for one year and until further order of the Court. He pled guilty to two separate offenses of driving under the influence of alcohol and a third offense of trespass and criminal damage to property, which was alcohol-related.  He is alcohol dependent and not currently involved in treatment.

In re STEVEN ROBERT LISS, Attorney Number 619526
7880 Exchange Place
LaJolla, California 92037-3703

File Information: M.R. 22859, 08 RC 1513

  Mr. Liss was licensed in Illinois in 1986 and in California in 1987. He was suspended in California for one year with the suspension stayed by probation for two years subject to conditions. He was sanctioned because he failed to respond promptly to reasonable status inquiries of clients and to keep clients reasonably informed of significant developments in matters with regard to which he agreed to provide legal services. The Illinois Supreme Court imposed reciprocal discipline and suspended him for one year, with the suspension stayed by probation.

In re JAMES ARTHUR McGURK, Attorney Number 1846477
10 South LaSalle Street, Suite 3300
Chicago, Illinois 60603-1026

File Information: M.R. 22858, 08 CH 53

  Mr. McGurk, who was licensed in 1973, was censured. He advanced living expenses to a client and failed to provide adequate disclosures to the client as to the nature of the loans or the conflict of interest that the loans created.

In re JOSEPH ALLAN MORRIS, Attorney Number 1963457
39 South La Salle Street, Suite 500
Chicago, Illinois 60603-1605

File information: M.R. 22713, 05 CH 125

  Mr. Morris, who was licensed in 1976, was censured. He neglected a deportation proceeding against a mentally ill young client.

In re DANIEL FRANCIS MURRAY, Attorney Number 1999540
11440 West Wilmington Road
Peotone, Illinois  60468-9724

File information: M.R. 22729, 08 CH 12

  Mr. Murray, who was licensed in 1974, was suspended for ninety days and until he makes certain restitution to a former client and pays all outstanding costs to the ARDC relating to a prior disciplinary case. He converted $4,976.60 in connection with a personal injury claim, and he failed to refund a $5,000 fee received for a civil appeal that he neglected. The suspension is effective on February 10, 2009.

In re HOWARD A. PETERS IV, Attorney No. 6275688
501 South 2nd Street, Room 196
Springfield, Illinois 62701-1730

File Information: M.R. 22866, 08 SH 61

  Mr. Peters, who was licensed in 2001, was suspended for six months. He converted legal fees from his former law firm, and he failed to promptly refund unearned fees to a client. The suspension is effective on February 10, 2009.

In re ALAN JAY SHEFLER, Attorney Number 3127682
165 North Canal Street, Suite 711
Chicago, Illinois 60606-1521

File Information: M.R. 22826, 05 CH 35

  Mr. Shefler, who was licensed in 1980, was suspended for six months. He paid referral fees to non-lawyers and shared legal fees with a non-lawyer. The suspension is effective on February 10, 2009.

In re WILLIAM STANLEY SOHN, Attorney Number 3123648
7 North Vermilion, Suite 316
Danville, Illinois 61832-5806

File Information: M.R. 22810, 08 SH 35

  Mr. Sohn, who was licensed in 1979, was censured. While serving as a public defender, he was appointed to defend a man charged with sexual assault. He spoke to his client only once before trial and failed to interview any witnesses or conduct discovery. The client was convicted, but an appellate court concluded that he ineffectively represented his client and reversed the conviction.

In re JEFFERY A. TULLIS, Attorney Number 6244030
1250 East Diehl Road, Suite 108
Naperville, Illinois  60563-9338

File information: M.R. 22741, 07 CH 77

  Mr. Tullis, who was licensed in 1997, was suspended for six months and until further order of the Court. He neglected an age discrimination claim, made misrepresentations to the referring attorney, failed to communicate with his client and failed to return unearned fees. He did not appear at his disciplinary hearing.

In re CARL MAURICE WALSH, Attorney Number 2928884
39 South LaSalle Street, Suite 1400
Chicago, Illinois  60603-1707

File Information: M.R. 22719, 06 CH 85

  Mr. Walsh, who was licensed in November 1965, was suspended for five months and until he makes certain restitution. He neglected a client’s criminal appeal. He was previously disciplined for similar misconduct.  The suspension is effective on February 10, 2009.

In re CHARLES EDWARD WHELAN, Jr.,
Attorney Number 2998165
190 Old Sutton Road
Barrington, Illinois 60010-9380

File Information: M.R. 22799, 07 CH 114

  Mr. Whelan, who was licensed in 1968, was suspended for two years and until further order of the Court and until he makes certain restitution. He assisted his wife, who is a disbarred attorney, in the unauthorized practice of law. He also converted client funds, neglected two client matters, failed to refund unearned fees, and did not return client records. He failed to appear at his disciplinary hearing.

The Following Orders Were Entered By The Court Before The January 2009 Term But Were Not Included In Any Previous Information Release

In re DANIEL CASS MILLS, Attorney Number 6231139
3573 Vestige Trail
Springfield, Illinois 62707-9650

File Information: M.R. 22637, 08 ML 6014

(Order entered on  December 1, 2008).

  Mr. Mills, who was licensed in 1996, was suspended on an interim basis and until further order of the Court. During his employment as an Assistant Sangamon County State’s Attorney, he possessed and used cocaine and marijuana. In addition, during 2008, he was charged with aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, aggravated assault with a firearm, and possession of drug paraphernalia. One week later, in a separate matter, he was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol.

In re BRUCE NASH, Attorney Number 6200502
3333 West Arthington, Suite 215
Chicago, Illinois 60624-4278

File Information: M.R. 22663, 07 CH 68

(Order entered on December 2, 2008). 

  Mr. Nash, who was licensed in 1989, was suspended on an interim basis and until further order of the Court. The ARDC Hearing Board recommended that he be suspended for thirty months and until further order of the Court for engaging a conflict of interest when he represented an elderly client who sold her home to another client. The elderly client was unaware of the transaction, had not authorized it, and received none of the sale proceeds

In re MARK D. BRADLEY, Attorney Number 3128330
253 East Wood Street
Decatur, Illinois 62523-1483

File Information: M.R. 22852, 08 ML 6018

(Order entered on December 10, 2008).

  Mr. Bradley, who was licensed in 1980, was suspended on an interim basis and until further order of the Court. He was arrested for making a threat to a Macon County Circuit Court Judge.  He was later indicted by a grand jury and charged with the offense of threatening a public official, a class three felony.