On Wednesday, September 21, 2022, the Supreme Court of Illinois ruled on the Petition by the Administrator of the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission (ARDC) to impose discipline on consent suspending St. Louis attorney Heather Lynn Biagi.

The case, titled In the Matter of Heather Lynn Biagi was brought by the Administrator of the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission. Case #2021PR00101.

The charges cited Rules 5.5(a), 8.4(b), and 8.4(c) of the Illinois Rules of Professional Conduct, which state:

A lawyer shall not practice law in a jurisdiction in violation of the regulation of the legal profession in that jurisdiction, or assist another in doing so.

It is professional misconduct for a lawyer to commit a criminal act that reflects adversely on the lawyer’s honesty, trustworthiness, or fitness as a lawyer in other respects.

It is professional misconduct for a lawyer to engage in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation.

The disciplinary matter involves a three-count complaint against Respondent.

Count I relates to Respondent’s conviction by guilty plea on driving under the influence, failure to yield to emergency vehicles, and operating an uninsured motor vehicle on September 25, 2019.

Count II refers to Respondent’s Theft Conviction where she admitted that she knowingly obtained by deception a site development plan with alterations that were not approved by the registered professional engineer, without paying for those alterations and with the intent to deprive the owner permanently of the value of the property.

Count III involves unauthorized practice of law between March 9, 2018, and September 12, 2018, despite knowing that her name was stricken from the rolls of attorneys by an order dated March 9, 2018, for failure to register and pay the annual registration fee.

Respondent filed an Affidavit stating that the assertions in the Petition are true and complete and that she joined in the Petition freely and voluntarily with an understanding of the nature and consequences of the Petition.

In its Petition to Impose Discipline on Consent, the Administrator, with Respondent’s consent. and the approval of the panel of the Hearing Board requested that the Court enter an order suspending Respondent from law practice for five months.

Accordingly, the Supreme Court of Illinois, in its Order dated September 21, 2022, allowed the Petition by the Administrator.

Respondent Kevin P. McCarty is suspended from the practice of law in the State of Illinois for five months effective October 12, 2022.

Ms. Heather Lynn Biagi graduated from St. Louis University School of Law.  She practices in St. Louis, Missouri with Cordell & Cordell, prior to this suspension order. She has been licensed in Illinois and Missouri, according to Avvo. Her info can be on LinkedIn.

A copy of the original filing can be found here.