Sunday, September 19, 2010

Iowa Supreme Court Disciplinary Board Disciplines Stephen J. Lickiss

Charles L. Harrington and Wendell J. Harms, Des Moines, for complainant.Stephen J. Lickiss, Altoona, pro se.

This matter comes before us on the report of a division of the Grievance Commission of the Supreme Court of Iowa. See Iowa Ct. R. 35.10. The Iowa Supreme Court Attorney Disciplinary Board alleged the respondent, Stephen J. Lickiss, violated ethical rules in four probate matters by neglecting these matters, failing to respond to clients' inquiries for information, taking probate fees without prior court approval, failing to notify his clients that he had ceased to represent them, and failing to respond to the board's inquiries. The grievance commission found Lickiss violated the Iowa Rules of Professional Conduct and recommended a three-month suspension. Upon our respectful consideration of the findings of fact, conclusions of law, and recommendation of the commission, we find Lickiss committed several ethical violations and suspend his license to practice law indefinitely with no possibility of reinstatement for three months.

Full Document and Source:
IOWA SUPREME COURT ATTORNEY DISCIPLINARY BOARD, Complainant, v. Stephen J. LICKISS, Respondent.
No. 10-0363.

3 comments:

Thelma said...

But what about the client moneys?
Why no mention of that?

StandUp said...

Wouldn't it be something if there were a national database on lawyer (and judge) discipline so we really could see the big picture?

Brian said...

More and more of these stories are in the news daily. Why is it that people distrust lawyers in general, but trust their own lawyer?