Five suburban lawyers disciplined for professional misconduct

Five suburban lawyers have been disciplined by the Illinois Supreme Court and the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission for engaging in professional misconduct that violates state ethics laws, officials announced Friday.

In all, 22 lawyers from across the state received ARDC disciplinary orders.

The suburban lawyers are:

•Grant Richard Niehus, of Deerfield, has been suspended for 90 days for engaging in the unauthorized practice of law after his name was removed from the attorney master rolls for failing to complete his minimum continuing legal education, not registering to practice law as required by the Illinois Supreme Court, and handling at least 12 legal matters for clients after his name was removed from attorney master rolls. His suspension is effective Feb. 11.

•William Byron Blanchard, of Geneva, also received a 90-day suspension for misappropriating $3,500 in earnest money in a real estate transaction, officials said. His suspension is also effective Feb. 11. •Ron L. Richards, of Lake Villa, received an 18-month suspension and is not allowed to practice law until further ordered for neglecting two separate client matters, misappropriating client funds, and failing to cooperate with the ARDC, officials said. He did not appear at his own disciplinary hearing, officials said.

•Joel Clark Runkle, of Grayslake, was suspended for six months and also is not allowed to practice law until further ordered until he makes certain restitution for neglecting a client's real estate matter and failing to keep the client reasonably informed about the status of her case.

•Paul Leslie Shelton, of Hinsdale, was officially disbarred for numerous sanctions, officials said, including: improperly entering into a business transaction with a client; fraudulently notarizing a document affecting that client's interests; making false statements in a legal action concerning a client's interests; acting as a real estate broker and attorney in the same transaction; receiving brokerage commissions before obtaining a real estate brokerage license; neglecting client matters; failing to adequately communicate with clients; charging and collecting unreasonable fees; failing to deposit client money into a client fund account; failing to withdraw from client matters after he was discharged.

The ARDC is an Illinois Supreme Court agency charged to investigate wrongdoing by Illinois attorneys. The agency holds hearings on specific charges, and recommends discipline where warranted. The Supreme Court is the only authority that can discipline lawyers for misconduct, and generally announces lawyer sanction orders during each formal term in court every January, March, May, September and November.

For more information, view their website at iardc.org.