Quincy lawyer Cashman disbarred by Illinois Supreme Court

Editor's note: This shark has observed that the ARDC has "pets", attorneys who do basically the same misdeeds as Lawyer Cashman, yet the "pets" are unsanctioned. The  probate case of Alice R. Gore and ARDC complaints against GAL and associated attorneys thereof is a classic example.

 Alice R. Gore Estate value about 1 million dollars: Alice R. Gore, deceased, a disabled 99 year old ward of the Probate Court of Cook County, Judge Kawamoto’s courtroom was hours away from ending up in the Cook County Morgue. Alice's estate was depleted by probate court parasites and there were reportedly no funds to bury her. Her loving family paid for the burial expenses so that Alice would not have to suffer the indignity of being stacked like an Auschwitz inmate in the Cook County morgue. The judge allowed an easily manipulated, court documented, mentally disabled granddaughter to be appointed as Alice’s guardian and yet no sanctions were instituted against the judge or court officers for this blatant infraction of the law.


Strangely, 16 of Alice’s annuity checks, two of which show forged endorsements, disappeared. Alice’s daughter has a copy of a check with her signature possibly forged. The daughter’s attorney has been trying to obtain copies of the 16 other annuity checks for two years without success. Even more puzzling is a $150,000 life insurance policy owned by Alice and not inventoried into the estate by the court. The Probate Court of Cook of Cook County refuses to investigate these blatant infractions of the law. Lucius Verenus, Schoolmaster, ProbateSharks.com

P.S. This shark wonders if Alice's GAL will investigate Alice's missing safety deposit key and Eddie's 50 lb bag of antique silver dollars most likely stored therein?  Shades of Sykes!

Quincy lawyer Cashman disbarred by Illinois Supreme Court

Posted: Sep 21, 2012 5:03 PM CDT

Updated: Sep 21, 2012 10:03 PM CDT





Devin Cashman By DON O'BRIEN

Herald-Whig Staff Writer



A Quincy lawyer has been disbarred by the Illinois Supreme Court as a result of a complaint to the Illinois Attorney Registration and Discipline Commission.



Devin Cashman, 53, was disbarred on consent. Cashman had been licensed to practice in Illinois since November 1984 and is a partner in his own firm in Quincy.



According to a report posted on the ARDC website, Cashman "misappropriated funds from three clients, including the executors of two probate estates. He also presented a report to a count in one of the probate manners where he falsely stated that estate assets had been distributed to persons entitled to receive them under the decendent's (sic) will."



Peter Roskoff, chief of litigation for the ARDC, said Cashman will not be allowed to practice law in Illinois for at least three years from his disbarment date, which was Sept. 17.



"Reinstatement is not automatic," Roskoff said. "Most people who are disbarred are never reinstated."



The initial complaint against Cashman alleged that he took nearly $200,000 from a client trust bank account without authorization for personal ad business uses and that he didn't show up at a hearing concerning the allegations to make a sworn statement.



Cashman acknowledged all the previous allegations set out in the ARDC's petition, Roskoff said.



º According to ARDC, Cashman agreed in 2008 to represent the estate of the late Elizabeth L. Wilkins. He drew at least $162,571.75 in proceeds belonging to the estate by negotiating checks payable to himself or taking cash from his trust account. Between May 2008 and November 2009, Cashman wrote 16 checks payable to himself or to cash from his trust account from the estate. Cashman used the funds for his own business or personal expenses without the authority of the estate's representative or the court.



º In October 2009, Cashman prepared a final report in the Wilkins case. At Cashman's request, the executor of the will signed the report and Cashman filed it. The report falsely stated that the estate's assets had been distributed to the persons entitled to receive them under the decedent's will.



º In 2010, Cashman was holding funds on behalf of Craig Cherington, executor for the Meta Lichtenberg estate, which was pending in Adams County. From March to June 2010, Cashman used $15,250 of the funds belonging to the Lichtenberg estate by writing seven checks to himself out of his trust account. Cashman used the funds without the authority of the estate's representative or the court.



º In 2011, Cashman was holding funds on the behalf of Elsie Lichtenberg and on behalf of the Lichtenberg estate for the purposes of paying income taxes. Between April 2011 and July 2011, Cashman used $19,250 of the funds belonging to Elsie Lichtenberg and the Lichtenberg estate by writing five checks to himself out of his trust account. Cashman used the funds without the authority of the estate's representative or Elsie Lichtenberg.



Cashman still faces felony theft charges in Adams County. He was arrested in March and charged with theft over $100,000, a Class 1 felony. A conviction for a Class 1 felony would mean Cashman would not be eligible for probation and could be sentenced to up to 15 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. He is free on a $50,000 recognizance bond. He recently had his bond modified to allow him to travel to Missouri and Iowa.



Cashman has pleaded not guilty. A pretrial hearing is scheduled for 1 p.m. Nov. 16. The case has tentatively been set for the December jury docket.



-- dobrien@whig.com/221-3370

http://www.whig.com/story/19609070/quincy-lawyer-cashman-disbarred-by-illinois-supreme-court