Illinois Supreme Court Disbars 1, Suspends 7 in Latest Disciplinary Filing
The Illinois Supreme Court announced the filing of lawyer disciplinary orders on January 24, 2025. Sanctions were imposed because the lawyers engaged in professional misconduct by violating state ethics law.
Disbarred
Chinyere Alex Ogoke, Chicago
Mr. Ogoke, who was licensed in 2005, was disbarred. After the United States Board of Immigration Appeals suspended him from practicing before the Board, the Immigration Courts, and the Department of Homeland Security based on a previous suspension in Illinois, he filed notices of appearance on behalf of 11 immigrations clients falsely stating that he was not then the subject of any order suspending or otherwise restricting him in the practice of law. He also did not respond to the ARDC’s request for information or comply with a subpoena to appear for a sworn statement during the ARDC’s investigation into his conduct.
Suspended
Eddy Copot, Chicago
Mr. Copot, who was licensed in 2013, was suspended for six months and until he completes the ARDC Professionalism Seminar. He engaged in dishonesty by falsifying three internal emails at the title insurance company at which he was employed to make it seem as if his supervisor had approved the denial of insureds’ claims. The suspension is effective on February 13, 2025.
Alison Kleinhenn Devis, Indianapolis, IN
Ms. Devis was licensed in Illinois in 2003 and in Indiana in 2004. In January 2024, the Indiana Supreme Court suspended her for 90 days, with the suspension stayed after 30 days by at least two years of probation with conditions, for committing criminal trespass on two separate occasions and violating probation conditions imposed in her criminal matters. Ms. Devis subsequently violated the disciplinary probation conditions, and the Indiana Supreme Court suspended her for at least 60 days without automatic reinstatement. The Supreme Court of Illinois imposed reciprocal discipline and suspended her for 90 days and until further order of the Court. A suspension until further order of the Court is an indefinite suspension which requires the suspended lawyer to petition for reinstatement after the fixed period of suspension ends. Reinstatement is not automatic and must be allowed by the Supreme Court of Illinois following a hearing before the ARDC Hearing Board.
Kurosh K. Hosseini, Evanston
Mr. Hosseini, who was licensed in 2012, was suspended for five months after he pled guilty to misdemeanor attempt non-consensual dissemination of sexual images. He admitted that he attempted to post, publish, or distribute private sexual images of a former romantic partner without that person’s consent. The suspension is effective on February 13, 2025.
Lauren Elizabeth Moynihan, Chicago
Ms. Moynihan, who was licensed in 2005, was suspended for 30 days and until further order of the Court. She worked as an attorney for the U.S. Department of Education for two years after having been removed from the roll of attorneys for failure to register and complete minimum continuing legal education requirements. A suspension until further order of the Court is an indefinite suspension which requires the suspended lawyer to petition for reinstatement after the fixed period of suspension ends. Reinstatement is not automatic and must be allowed by the Supreme Court of Illinois following a hearing before the ARDC Hearing Board.
Eric Scott Sander, Morton Grove
Mr. Sander, who was licensed in 1988, was suspended for 90 days. In 2022 and 2023, he intentionally used for his own purposes more than $5,800 in funds belonging to his client and others in three real estate matters. In addition, he failed to maintain complete records for his client trust account during that period. The suspension is effective on February 13, 2025.
Daniel Warren Thomann, Chicago
Mr. Thomann was licensed in Illinois in 2007 and was admitted to practice in the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit in 2008. The Seventh Circuit suspended him for one year for violating an earlier disciplinary order placing him on a two-year probationary period. Specifically, he failed to pay a docketing fee in a matter and disregarded an order requiring additional briefing from him in the matter. The Illinois Supreme Court imposed reciprocal discipline and suspended him for one year. The suspension is effective on February 13, 2025.
Charles F. Morrissey, Chicago
Mr. Morrissey, who was licensed in 1997, was suspended on an interim basis and until further order of the Court. Mr. Morrissey is the subject of a complaint before the ARDC’s Hearing Board alleging that he converted more than $388,000 he was holding in connection with two client matters, made misrepresentations to his clients regarding the status of their funds, and knowingly made a false statement to a tribunal about the status of one client’s funds.