ARDC review board recommends disbarment over misappropriated funds

By Emma Oxnevad eoxnevad@lawbulletinmedia.com

Posted January 28, 2022 10:10 AM

A lawyer who misappropriated more than $120,000 in client funds should be disbarred, according to a 2-1 majority of the Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission review board.Respondent Valarie Pope Franklin was the subject of a 13-count complaint charging her with dishonestly appropriating about $122,000 of her clients’ settlement funds, in violation of Rules 1.15(a) and 8.4(c) of the Illinois Rules of Professional Conduct.Franklin’s bank statements show that, between 2014 and 2016, she frequently …

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