On September 2, 2022, the Review Board of the Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission denied the petition for reinstatement of attorney Pamela D. Lucas for failing to prove that she is rehabilitated and for failing to meet the requirements for reinstatement.

The case titled In the Matter of Pamela D. Lucas was brought by Pamela D. Lucas under case no. 2020PR00040.

According to the filing:

“In 2000, Petitioner engaged in misconduct relating to bankruptcy matters. Following a hearing in 2002 at which Petitioner was represented by counsel, the 2002 Hearing Board found that Petitioner had engaged in misconduct between May 1994 and October 2000,which included the following: (1) Petitioner practiced law in the U.S. Bankruptcy court for six years without being a member of the federal bar, as required; (2) Petitioner falsely represented to a bankruptcy judge that Petitioner was a member of the federal bar, even though she was not a member of the federal bar; (3) Petitioner made a false statement on her application for the federal bar by falsely representing that she had never been investigated by the ARDC, when, in fact, there had been eight prior ARDC investigations; and (4) Petitioner failed to diligently represent a bankruptcy client by failing to file a bankruptcy petition on behalf of that client in a timely manner to prevent foreclosure on the client’s home.

In 2003, after the Hearing Board found that Petitioner had engaged in misconduct, Petitioner consented to a three-month suspension.”

The filing continues:

“The facts concerning Petitioner’s misconduct in 2001 – involving the personal injury lawsuit – were set forth in the 2004 Consent Petition, and Petitioner signed an affidavit stating that those facts were true. Specifically, Petitioner admitted that: (i) she settled the personal injury case without the client’s authority; (ii) Petitioner had her secretary sign the client’s name on the Release form to settle the case; (iii) Petitioner signed the client’s name on the settlement check; (iv) Petitioner co-mingled the client’s funds with personal funds; and (v)Petitioner converted the client’s funds ($7,500) for her own purpose.

In 2004, Petitioner was suspended for three years on consent and until further order of the Court based on that misconduct.”

The Summary of the Review Board’s Report and Recommendation reads:

“Petitioner seeks reinstatement. In 2004, she was suspended on consent for three years until further order of the Court, based on misconduct relating to a personal injury case. Petitioner had previously been suspended on consent for three months based on misconduct relating to her bankruptcy practice.

Following a hearing at which Petitioner was represented by counsel, the Hearing Board found that Petitioner failed to prove that she is rehabilitated and meets the requirements for reinstatement, and the Hearing Board recommended that Petitioner not be reinstated to the practice of law at this time. Petitioner appealed, asking the Review Board to recommend that Petitioner be reinstated to the practice of law.”

The Review Board concludes:

“In sum, we agree with the Hearing Board that Petitioner failed to prove by clear and convincing evidence that she should be reinstated at this time. Petitioner’s misconduct was serious; she failed to recognize the nature and seriousness of her wrongdoing; and she failed to establish that she is rehabilitated. Considering these factors and the record as a whole, we conclude that Petitioner’s request to be reinstated should be denied at this time. For the foregoing reasons, we affirm the Hearing Board’s findings regarding reinstatement, and recommend that Petitioner not be reinstated to the practice of law at this time.”

Ms. Pamela D. Lucas had been licensed in Illinois.

A copy of the original filing can be found here.