On Thursday, March 20, 2025, the Illinois Supreme Court suspended attorney Melanie Cheri’ King from practicing law for a period of two years, effective April 10, 2025. The suspension will be stayed after five months, during which King will be placed on probation for two years, subject to specific conditions.
The case is entitled ” In the Matter of Melanie Cheri’ King,” with case number M.R.32574.
The court’s decision follows a petition submitted by the Administrator of the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission, seeking to impose discipline on King under Supreme Court Rule 762(b). The petition outlined that King, who has practiced law in Illinois since 2005, failed to demonstrate adequate diligence in representing her clients, leading to significant professional misconduct.
The disciplinary action stems from a series of failures related to a personal injury and loss of consortium case involving clients identified as G.K. and D.K. In 2021, King filed a complaint on behalf of the couple but did not take further action to serve the defendants or communicate with her clients about the case’s status. Consequently, the trial court dismissed the case for want of prosecution in December 2023 after no activity on the matter since September 2021.
In the wake of her inaction, King had initially offered to settle the claims with her clients for $250,000, a settlement amount for which she had not conducted any valuation to determine its appropriateness. During the disciplinary proceedings, an expert witness retained by the Administrator assessed the claims and estimated their value at approximately $125,000. King has agreed to pay this amount to G.K. and D.K. as part of the restitution process.
The Supreme Court’s order details several conditions that King must adhere to during her probationary period. These conditions include successfully completing the ARDC Professionalism Seminar within the first five months, complying with the Illinois Rules of Professional Conduct, and cooperating with the Administrator in any investigations related to her conduct.
Additionally, King is required to reimburse the Commission for the costs associated with the disciplinary proceedings and pay restitution to her clients in the amount of $125,000. This restitution must be completed at least thirty days before the end of her probation. King must also maintain supervision of her law practice by a licensed attorney approved by the Administrator, submit quarterly reports about her compliance, and notify the Administrator of any legal charges against her.
The court emphasized that if King violates any terms of her probation, her suspension could be reinstated in full. The decision aims to ensure that King addresses the issues that led to her misconduct and to protect the integrity of the legal profession.
According to Avvo, Ms. King is an attorney in Flossmoor, Illinois. She acquired her law license in Illinois in 2005.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
