Appellate court: Greco 'a menace to his clients'

Cook County

Appellate court: Greco 'a menace to his clients'

Ameet Sachdev Chicago Law

March 24, 2011

The federal court of appeals in Chicago reprimanded a lawyer for unprofessional behavior during a lawsuit and fined him $5,000.

 In an opinion released Tuesday, the court cited Michael Greco, 47, who has a private practice in Chicago, for repeatedly missing filing deadlines and ignoring phone calls from court officials. Judge Frank Easterbrook, who wrote the opinion, described Greco's conduct in harsh terms.

"The events recounted in this opinion show that Greco is a menace to his clients and a scofflaw with respect to appellate procedure," wrote Easterbrook, one of the best-known judges on the appellate court. "The district court may wish to consider whether he should remain a member of its bar."

Easterbrook added that Greco's conduct was so sloppy that Greco must send his clients copies of the opinion "so that they may consider whether to file malpractice suits against him."

Greco declined to comment on the court's sanction.

The 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has the authority to discipline lawyers but does so infrequently, according to court observers. The federal court system' disciplinary authority is independent of the Illinois Supreme Court, which has its own disciplinary agency.

Greco has not previously been disciplined by the Illinois Supreme Court and is not involved in any pending proceedings, according to the state Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission.


The federal courts refer matters to the ARDC, said James Grogan, the commission's deputy administrator, but he would not confirm or deny whether the commission is investigating Greco.

Greco represents three black employees of the Cook County prison system who sued their employer in 2008, alleging discrimination in being denied promotions. A federal judge dismissed the lawsuits in September 2008 but granted the plaintiffs 40 days to refile their cases.

The new complaints were not filed until May 2009, well past the deadline the judge had set, and the cases were thrown out again.

Greco challenged the dismissal in the appellate court, but Easterbrook said the 2009 lawsuits were not filed in a timely manner.

Please read complete article at link below:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-0324-chicago-law-fined--20110324,0,4789762.column
 
Editor's note:  From your ProbateShark's observations of the mischief that goes on every day in the ( and is not prevented) Probate Court of Cook County...this guy has to be B A D.