On Thursday, October 31, 2024, the Hearing Board of the Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission (IARDC) recommended the disbarment of attorney Adrian Murati following a series of serious ethical violations. The decision comes after an extensive hearing where Murati was accused of eight counts of professional misconduct.
The case is entitled “In the Matter of Adrian Murati,” with case no. 2023PR00026.
The Administrator had filed an eight-count complaint against Murati, detailing numerous infractions that included abandoning client cases, submitting a falsified settlement agreement and check, and misleading clients about the status of their lawsuits. The hearing, held in Chicago, featured testimony from several witnesses who provided evidence of Murati’s actions over a prolonged period of negligence and misconduct.
The Hearing Board found that Murati had indeed committed several violations of the Illinois Rules of Professional Conduct. Notably, he was accused of neglecting to inform clients about the dismissals of their cases due to his inaction, resulting in their lawsuits being dismissed for want of prosecution. The evidence presented showed that Murati failed to act with diligence and did not maintain reasonable communication with his clients.
In addition to abandoning client matters, Murati was charged with dishonestly converting settlement funds meant for a litigation lender. This included instances where he received settlements but did not remit the owed amounts to the lender, instead using the funds for personal and business expenses. His client trust account reportedly had a negative balance, which raised significant ethical concerns regarding his handling of client funds.
During the hearing, the board reviewed testimonies from both colleagues and clients, including Paul Marriett, Murati’s former partner, who expressed concerns about Murati’s inability to communicate effectively about their cases. Marriett noted that he had to spend considerable time rectifying the consequences of Murati’s neglect, including notifying affected clients and trying to salvage their legal actions.
The board’s findings were particularly severe given Murati’s absence during the hearing, where he did not appear to defend himself or provide any counterarguments to the allegations. His lack of participation was viewed as an aggravating factor in determining the appropriate disciplinary action.
The charges against Murati included failing to keep clients adequately informed about their cases, engaging in dishonest conduct, and failing to comply with court orders. The board found clear and convincing evidence supporting these allegations, which ultimately led to their recommendation for disbarment.
The recommendation states:
“Accordingly, we recommend that Respondent, Adrian Murati, be disbarred.”
According to avvo.com, Mr. Murati is a car accident attorney in Rockford, Illinois. He attended the Chicago-Kent College of Law, Illinois Institute of Technology, graduating in 2015. He acquired his law license in Illinois in the same year.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
