On Tuesday, March 12, 2024, the Hearing Board of the Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission filed a complaint against attorney Cynthia Jean Koroll.
The case is entitled “In the Matter of Cynthia Jean Koroll” with case number 2024PR00016.
The complaint alleges that Koroll engaged in misconduct related to two cases she handled in Winnebago County Circuit Court. In 2016, Koroll represented Matthew Cacioppi in drafting his will and Jessica Wilson in probating Cacioppi’s estate after his death. However, the will and probate filings incorrectly stated that Cacioppi and Wilson were married, when in fact the court had already determined they were never lawfully wed.
Two years later, Koroll filed a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of Wilson regarding Cacioppi’s death. The complaint in this case, as well as amended complaints, also falsely claimed that Wilson and Cacioppi were married at the time of his death. It wasn’t until a deposition in 2020 that Wilson admitted under oath she was never married to Cacioppi. Koroll also submitted interrogatory responses in the wrongful death case asserting the two were in a civil union, which was also untrue.
In 2021, the defendants in the wrongful death case filed motions to dismiss alleging violations of Illinois Supreme Court Rule 137, which prohibits filing false pleadings. After a hearing where Wilson testified again, the judge found that Koroll and Wilson had knowingly filed multiple false pleadings. As a sanction, the judge dismissed the wrongful death case with prejudice and ordered Koroll to pay $18,000 in attorney’s fees.
Koroll, on behalf of Wilson, appealed the decision, but the appellate court affirmed the lower court’s ruling in October 2023.
The ARDC complaint alleges Koroll’s actions in the two cases involving Wilson and Cacioppi violated several Illinois Rules of Professional Conduct regarding dishonesty before a tribunal and conduct prejudicial to the justice system.
The Charge states:
“WHEREFORE, the Administrator requests that this matter be assigned to a panel of the Hearing Board, that a hearing be held and that the panel make findings of fact, conclusions of fact and law and a recommendation for such discipline as is warranted”
According to Avvo, Ms. Koroll is a medical malpractice attorney in Rockford, Illinois. She attended the Northern Illinois University College of Law. She obtained her law license in Illinois in 2001.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
