On Thursday, February 9, 2023, the Indiana Supreme Court publicly reprimand attorney Bruce E. Mclane for failure to communicate with a client.
The case is entitled “In the matter of Bruce E. Mclane” with case no. 22S-DI-224.
The charges cited Indiana Rules of Professional Conduct 1.3, 1.4, 1.16(d), and 3.2 which state:
Failure to act with reasonable diligence and promptness.
Failure to adequately communicate with a client.
Failure to protect a client’s interests upon termination of representation.
Failure to expedite litigation consistent with the interests of a client.
The Rules of Professional Conduct can be found here.
The respondent represented a client in December 2018 for a collection matter that was set for a proceeding supplemental hearing. He also entered on behalf and filed for bankruptcy for the said client in Federal Court. In January 2020, the plaintiff requested a hearing, which the trial court granted and scheduled for February 2021. However, after the respondent requested and received two continuances, he failed to appear at three additional scheduled hearings. He failed to communicate adequately as well with his client and he didn’t respond to the trial court’s attempts to communicate regarding his failure of appearances.
For the appropriate discipline for the misconduct of the respondent, the parties proposed Public Reprimand. This Discipline is consistent with the imposed in other cases involving the same violations of conduct.
The Court, having considered the proposal of the parties, approved the agreed Discipline and imposed Public Reprimand on the Respondent.
As of today, Mr. McLane is listed in the law firm McLane & McLane as a practicing attorney. His info can be found on martindale.com. He practices in Marion, Indiana. He is licensed in Indiana.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
