Avalanche of lawsuits flows from Conour fraud
State and federal suits take aim at a cavalcade of local attorneys, including some who used to work with the once-prominent, personal-injury lawyer.
Attorneys
Articles
Ex-lawyer who admitted to fraud wants to keep fees
William Conour, a former prominent Indianapolis lawyer who pleaded guilty in July to defrauding clients of $4.5 million, wants to keep $2 million in legal fees he says were legitimately earned.
Convicted Conour, government agree to sale of assets for victims
Possessions of convicted former attorney William Conour—including furniture, artwork and a collection of premium wine and champagne—could be sold to help clients Conour defrauded of at least $4.5 million.
Outrage-laden ITT ruling tossed aside by appellate court
The outrage that seemed to leap from an order that Judge Tonya Walton Pratt issued last year was entirely missing from a new appeals court ruling reversing her dismissal and the attorneys’ sanctions.
State sues AT&T for suspending injured workers
The lawsuit alleges AT&T’s Indiana subsidiary “has a practice and policy” of suspending employees for at least one day after they report work-related injuries.
Brizzi hit with another legal malpractice suit
Defrocked Secretary of State Charlie White has sued Carl Brizzi, the former Marion County prosecutor who represented White during a criminal case that led to his removal from office.
Attorney’s report alleges trucking school small-claims abuses
An attorney’s report examining more than 7,700 lawsuits filed by an Indianapolis-based trucking school alleges systemic abuses that resulted in thousands of judgments against people who may never have stepped foot in the county or the state.
Chief justice wants lawyers to do more pro bono work
One key proposal from a state commission is to require all licensed attorneys in Indiana to report their pro bono hours.
Mighty Oxford Financial loses big case with client
An arbitrator ordered the Carmel financial-advisory firm to pay $2.2 million to Reid Hospital & Health Services of Richmond. The dispute involved a delay in executing trades in 2011 that the hospital alleged cost it $2.5 million.
Attorney disbarred for writing book about client
In 2010, Joseph Stork Smith authored a book purporting to be a true autobiographical account of his 20-year relationship with a former client who was active in politics.
IU to use Conour funds to help fraud victims
Indiana University plans to use $450,000 donated to its Indianapolis law school by former attorney William Conour to aid the clients defrauded of more than $4.5 million. Conour pleaded guilty to fraud charges Monday morning.
Veteran labor lawyer Mallamad joins Barnes & Thornburg
Jeffrey Mallamad came from Bingham Greenebaum Doll, where he had chaired the labor and employment practice group.
Nick’s English Hut’s ATM miscue spawns legal nightmare
The absence of a fee-disclosure sticker triggered a class-action lawsuit, as well as a legal tangle with the restaurant's insurance company.
Local attorney pleads guilty in $4.5M fraud case
After a judge revoked his bond and accused him of misleading the court, former personal-injury lawyer William Conour entered a guilty plea in his federal wire fraud case.
Taxi cab drivers file suit against Town of Speedway
Speedway police improperly seized the licenses of as many as 80 cab drivers on the day of this year’s Indianapolis 500, and later charged them $50 each for their return, according to a federal lawsuit filed against the town.
Judge sends Conour to jail for bond violation
William Conour, the former high-profile personal-injury attorney accused of fraud, was led from federal court in handcuffs Thursday after a judge said Conour had misled the court and violated conditions of his bond.
Seiwert to rejoin city as corporation counsel
Andrew Seiwert, who twice has served as associate corporation counsel for Indianapolis, will succeed Samantha Karn as she takes a position with the University of Indianapolis.
Former Indy attorney sentenced for theft from estate
Former Indianapolis attorney David F. Rees was sentenced to four years of home detention and two years of probation after pleading guilty to stealing more than $270,000 from an estate that he was charged with managing.
Conour still free after hearing, but judge ‘deeply concerned’
A federal judge has withheld a ruling on revoking the bond for William Conour, the former high-profile personal-injury attorney accused of defrauding 25 or more clients of at least $4.5 million.
Against court orders, Conour auctioned art for $10K
Attorney William Conour, accused of defrauding clients of more than $4.5 million, has admitted to auctioning some of his art collection in an apparent violation of bond conditions.