Illinois Supreme Court

The Illinois Supreme Court has recalled the following retired judges: Effective December 1, 2010, to hold court in the Circuit Court of Cook County through November 30, 2011:

• Hon. Curtis Heaston

Effective December 6, 2010, to hold court in the Circuit Court of Cook County through November 30, 2011:

• Hon. Charles R. Winkler

Effective December 1, 2010, to hold court in the Circuit Court of Cook County through November 30, 2011:

• Hon. John B. Grogan

Effective December 6, 2010, to hold court in the Circuit Court of Cook County through November 30, 2013:

• Hon. Roger G. Fein
• Hon. William J. Haddad
• Hon. Sidney A. Jones III
• Hon. Henry M. Singer
• Hon. Rhoda D. Sweeney

Extension effective immediately through November 30, 2013:

• Hon. Sheldon A. Harris

Effective December 6, 2010, to hold court in the Circuit Court of Cook County through November 30, 2013:

• Hon. Michael Ian Bender
• Hon. Nicholas Geanopoulos
• Hon. Pamela M. Leeming

A special luncheon will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 3, to celebrate the distinguished career of retiring Chief Justice Thomas R. Fitzgerald. This event will start at 11:30 a.m. at the Chicago Hilton, 720 S. Michigan. Tickets are $60 a person. For reservations, contact Tamra Drees at (312) 554-2057 or tdrees@chicagobar.org Thomas R. Fitzgerald is a native Chicagoan and attended Loyola University before enlisting in the United States Navy. After his tour of duty in the Navy, he graduated with honors from The John Marshall Law School, where he was one of the founders of the school’s current law review and served as the law review's associate editor.

The Illinois Supreme Court announced Tuesday that Eugene E. Gross received a majority of the votes cast by the circuit judges in the Twentieth Judicial Circuit and has been appointed to the office of associate judge. Mr. Gross received his undergraduate degree in 1980 from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois and his Juris Doctor in 1983 from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. Mr. Gross is currently affiliated with Reed, Heller, Mansfield & Gross in DuQuoin, Illinois

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

• William Charles Chesbrough, Elgin

Mr. Chesbrough, who was licensed in 1980, was disbarred. He misappropriated more than $113,000 that he was holding for a client in connection with the client’s deceased mother’s estate. In addition, in two separate real estate matters, he converted more than $28,000 that he was holding either as earnest money or to pay real estate taxes.

• Alan Samuel Cohen, St. Louis

Mr. Cohen was licensed in Missouri in 1992 and in Illinois in 1993. He was disbarred in Missouri for failing to maintain a client trust account and for using client and third party funds to pay office and personal expenses. The Illinois Supreme Court imposed reciprocal discipline and disbarred him.

• Joseph Patrick Collins, Chicago

Mr. Collins, who was licensed in 1975, was disbarred on consent. He was convicted in federal court of conspiracy, securities fraud and wire fraud. The conviction was based on his conduct while serving as outside counsel for Refco Inc., a commodities brokerage firm. Mr. Collins participated with others in an eight-year scheme to hide the company’s financial situation by making false and fraudulent statements to various parties, including banks, auditors, investors and the Securities Exchange Commission.

• C. Wayne K. Davis, St. Louis

Mr. Davis was licensed in Missouri in 1996 and in Illinois in 1999. He was disbarred in Missouri after a felony conviction. He misappropriated at least $25,000.00 from his employer, the Edward Jones Company. The Illinois Supreme Court imposed reciprocal discipline and disbarred him.

• Kelly Christine Garland, Chicago

Ms. Garland, who was licensed in 2002, was disbarred on consent. She falsified court orders and an affidavit in five different domestic relations matters in order to conceal from her clients the true status of their cases.

• Thaddeus James Hunt, Chicago

Mr. Hunt, who was licensed in 2002, was disbarred. He misappropriated $10,274.67 in client funds, neglected seven client matters, failed to communicate with clients and abandoned his law practice.

• Brainerd William LaTourette III, St. Louis

Mr. LaTourette was licensed in Missouri in 1982 and in Illinois in 1983. He was disbarred in Missouri for failing to perform his duties as trustee for a family trust, disobeying a court order, engaging in the unauthorized practice of law, and failing to participate in disciplinary proceedings against him. The Illinois Supreme Court imposed reciprocal discipline and disbarred him.

• James A. Reskin, Louisville, Ky.

Mr. Reskin, who was licensed in Illinois in 1982, was disbarred on consent. He was convicted in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma on charges of obstructing a criminal investigation by making false and misleading statements to the Internal Revenue Service and the United States Department of Justice.

• Kenneth Alan Runes, Mount Prospect

Mr. Runes, who was licensed in 1991, was disbarred. He misappropriated over $13,000 in client funds, neglected numerous client matters, failed to communicate with clients, failed to refund unearned fees, and did not cooperate with the ARDC investigation. Mr. Runes did not participate in his disciplinary hearing. He failed to participate in his disciplinary proceeding.

• Lawrence Scott Wick, Ft. Walton Beach, Fla.

Mr. Wick, who was licensed in Illinois in 1971, was disbarred. He billed more than $1 million to two corporate clients for work that he had never performed.

• Bradford Thomas Yaker, Bingham Farms, Mich.

Mr. Yaker was licensed in Illinois in 1988 and in Michigan in 1995. He was disbarred in Michigan for repeatedly representing to a client that he had filed a securities claim for the client when he had not done so. In addition, he falsely informed the client that he had reached a settlement in the matter and provided the client with a fictitious settlement agreement providing for a $30,000 payment. The Illinois Supreme Court imposed reciprocal discipline and disbarred him.