At what point do attorneys treat one another with respect and human decency? I was a Brownie Girl Scout leader in Spring 2000. My troop over-ordered cookies. The troop leader (me) purchased the extras.
At the time, I was socially involved with a person named "Fred Green Jr.." I had hired Fred's brother to work in an errand worker capacity. Fred's other brother (James D. Green) and his sister-in-law (Bianca Truitt Green) did not like me for some heretofore unknown reason.
The entire Green family (minus Bianca) were vacationing in Hawaii. I had recently adopted a great puppy who I was working with during early morning hours. I wanted to teach the puppy to run with me and she did best without crowds - hence the early mornings.
I felt badly for my once friend Biance Truitt Green because she did not get to go to Hawaii. I passed by her home in order to work out with my puppy. So, I just left extra Girl Scout cookies at her house. Below is the letter I received. Huh? Legal action against me for what?
Oh, and of course, Jim and Bianca copied people in the legal community on this threat!
This little gem of a letter arrived at my home as I was starting my own law office. I had left the law firm of Erwin, Martinkus & Cole after Lynne Feldman demanded that I engage in a scheme whereby I would (like Lynne Feldman did) take $35-$40 from each non-English speaking client under the pretense of the money going towards mailing and copying costs. Instead, Lynne Feldman put the entire money into an internal (for lack of a better word) slush fund! It was hidden from the IRS and used for books and trips . . . all tax free.I told Lynne Feldman that the scheme was criminal and unethical. Shortly thereafter, my services were no longer needed! The IRS agreed with me that the law firm of Erwin, Martinkus and Cole improperly characterized me as an independent contractor. In that way, some one at the firm would get more than 50% of the money I brought into the firm . . . tax free.In 2006, the IRS demanded that Michael Brown, CPA, JD and the accountant for the law firm submit a W2 for me for the years 1998 and 1999. Mike Brown just ignored the IRS! Maybe its just the legal community in Champaign County, Illinois
I want to encourage any patient at Carle Clinic Association or Hospital to bring someone with you to appointments.
I also strongly recommend that you obtain a second opinion if your doctor is Carle orthopedic surgeon Chris J. Dangles, MD. Dr. Dangles performed what turned out to be both unnecessary and harmful ankle surgeries on me in 2000 and 2001. The surgeries were debilitating and painful.
I practiced law in Champaign County at the time. Because of the stress of the crippling ankle surgeries, I became depressed. Carle psychiatrist James Whisenand, MD prescribed multiple (3+) psych drugs for me. Needless to say that I was unable to walk and then I was whacked out by the psych drugs. Dr. Dangles gave up and abandoned me as a patient. And I was so depressed that I lost my law license! It was horrible. I sued Dr. Dangles because I needed 4 repair surgeries and I need 2 more!! I lost my ability to walk and work. I am not taking public aid. I just expected Dr. Dangles to accept a modicum of responsibility. Wrong. Not so much character.
Then we get to the attorneys who are (IMHO) unethical attorneys. On top of it all, Dr. Dangles gave my mental health records (in violation of HIPAA and without my authorization) to his attorneys at Thomas, Mamer, Haughey. And attorneys in the firm (such as Rich Harden, James D. Green and Bianca Truitt Green) used those mental health records in public hearings and IMHO contributed to the records being placed on the Internet!!! All to protect a "bad doctor."
Please be careful if you are doomed to be a patient at Carle Clinic and especially in the department of orthopedics.
This is purely my humble opinion but it is based on hard cold facts.1. Lynne R Feldman is an unethical attorney who participated in a scheme to steal money from clients and then hide the money from the IRS and the Illinois Department of Revenue.2. R. Michael Brown is an unethical attorney who lied in written documents to the IRS (a federal agency that he appears in front of) and then ignored the IRS instructions to stop cheating associate attorneys.I was an attorney at the law firm of Erwin, Martinkus & Cole. I was hired as a "gofer attorney" for Lynne Feldman (an immigration attorney). In August 1998, another immigration attorney (Katie Shan) decided to leave the Central Illinois firm for greener pastures in Chicago. Ms. Shan told me she did not trust Ms. Feldman and Ms. Shan gave me all of her client files.Lynne Feldman was livid at Katie Shan's decision. Feldman wanted those clients and the money.The law firm had a bizarre way of paying me. They took more than 1/2 of the money I brought in but then they filed an IRS Form 1099 that stated the entire amount I brought into the firm. That full amount was certainly not the amount I took home!While I was at the Champaign law firm (1998-1999), Lynne Feldman was involved in a scheme of taking approximately $40 from each non-English speaking client under false pretenses and then placing the money into a "9999" internal firm account. She never reported that money to the federal government or state government. She used the tax-free money to purchase books, computer resources and take trips. I believe that money was straight income and Lynne Feldman should have paid taxes on the money.After I received Katie Shan's clients, Feldman was trying to make difficult for me. So, she threatened to stop allowing me to use her immigration resources because Feldman wanted me to participate her (IMHO) illegal and unethical activities.I told Feldman that the activity was illegal and I would not participate.Shortly thereafter, my services were no longer needed.I could not get unemployment insurance because the Champaign law firm of Erwin, Martinkus and Cole claimed I was an independent contractor. That was plainly false. I left the law firm in July 1999. It took until April 2006 for the IRS to write an 8-page decision letter directled to R. Michael Brown, JD, CPA, CFP, wherein they stated that the Champaign, Illinois, law firm behaved wrongly and owed me (among other things) 2 revised W2s and contributions to my social security account.The law firm of Erwin , Martinkus and Cole have ignored the IRS. I think that behavior unethical. I have a duty as an attorney to advise the ARDC of unethical behavior.The ARDC advises that I may have a civil claim against the law firm. Naw, I have a tremendous book I am writing that is much more interesting about Lynne Feldman, Erwin, Martinkus and Cole and other attorneys in Champaign, Illinois. I would never write and publish such a book unless I had exhausted the appropriate venues to have these professionals disciplined. I have done that as is shown by the above letter.Now I will . . . with much vigor and zeal . . . finish my very interesting book about my experiences with the medical and legal professions in Central Illinois! (I even have letters from agencies that said I should seek civil action but that the law firm did not nothing unethical ....? Does that make any sense whatsoever? No.Look for copies of the actual letters in my book!
Sotomayor is not the first United States Supreme Court nominee to be prepped so intensely for her confirmation hearings that it appears she has no opinion about Coke versus Pepsi.
Conservative nominees and liberal nominees share this annoying new propensity. The nominees' refusals to state any personally held opinion is frustrating and counter-productive because:
(1) It is disingenuous to believe that the Justice nominee has no personal opinion about the taking clause or third trimester abortions. There is a difference between deciding a case and discussing your personal views. We can read the nominees' decisions to ascertain the ability to apply facts to law.
(2) Frankly, it would be useful to know the nominee's personal views because then we can be assured that the justices can set aside personal views when deciding cases.
I have argued before judges that agreed with me personally but ruled against me because the law was not in my favor and there was no reasonable extension of the law or statute in the particular case. Those judges display their judicial integrity because the litigants knew that they were able to set aside personal views to properly decide a legal matter.
(3) Failure to hold personal convictions and views does not make you a tremendous legal mind. We all know that you are human and have personal views. That's fine. Holding personal views and discussing how you are able to set aside the views when deciding cases speaks to your character and integrity.
Pretending you have no personal views is insulting to the American public.
When the United States Supreme Court nominee denies any personally held convictions then we are left to conclude that the candidate lacks an ethical core, character and integrity.
______________________
The last few Supreme Court nominees have likewise declined to answer questions that sought personal views. I was likewise unimpressed and frustrated with those conservative nominees.
I fear that the legal profession has become a profession where too many attorneys pride themselves in being stealth. Attorneys such as myself who are courageous enough to step forward and articulate a personal stand are silenced and ostracized.
Character in the legal profession is important. It is important for attorneys and it is certainly important for judges. Take a stand. State a position. And then do your job and apply the facts to the law.
It is precisely the judges and attorneys that deny a personal position whom I distrust. I question their core values and integrity. As Americans, we must always be able and willing to take a stand and justify our personal opinions.
Integrity, honesty and ethics are the hallmarks of an attorney. You either have it or you do not.
Dishonesty and lying comes easy to some people in our society - some are doctors, some are lawyers, some are sales people. People without integrity sadly permeate our society.
And those without integrity and live dishonest lives will deceive friends, family and even when they are under oath. These people are threatened, actually threatened, by those of us who are fundamentally honest. Especially if an honest person like me refuses to participate in illegal scams that cheat clients and the government.
Honest people threaten those without a core of integrity.
That brings me to the question of whether Lynne R. Feldman (Partner and Immigration Attorney with the Champaign Illinois law firm of Erwin, Martinkus and Cole) is or is nor an Adjunct Faculty member at the University of Illinois College of Law.
Lately, there seems to be a lot of questions and investigations into the ethics at the University of Illinois College of Law.
Lynne R. Feldman advertises herself as a member of the Adjunct Faculty. Sounds impressive. But is it true?
Lynne R. Feldman
Erwin, Martinkus & Cole, Ltd.
411 West University Avenue
Champaign, IL 61820
Phone: (217) 351-4040
Fax: (217) 351-4314
Email:lynne.feldman@erwinlaw.com
Concentrating in Immigration and Nationality Law.I handle all types of family and employment-based immigration and naturalization law exclusive of cancellation hearings and related matters. Adjunct Professor -- Immigration law, University of Illinois College of Law.
http://www.healthanddna.com/paternitytesting/paternityimmigrationdir.html
Now let's look at the official list of Adjunct Law Faculty:
Adjunct Faculty
Adamski, Gregory
Albuquerque, Paulo
Ansel, Marc
Bailie, David
Barich, Joseph
Beaumont, Lawrence
Berkson, Stuart
Bernthal, David G.
Bisbikis, John
Black, Todd
Blockman, Arnold
Bonds, Bruce
Bruce, Devon
Conti, Karen
Feuille, Peter
Fischer, Karla
Geiler, Lorna
Hastings, Laura
Hawkins, Brent
Hellner, Mark
Holderman, Chief Judge James
Holderman, Paula Hudson
Kanis, Christopher
Kelley, John
Knauss, Darilynn
Kording, Scott
Kuenning, Matt
Ladd, Judge Heidi
McDonald, Ward
Meier, Cheryl
Meirelles, Jose Carlos
Melbinger, Michael
Monfort, Renée
Mool, Deanna
Newman, Glenn
Pahre, Jennifer
Pea, Janice
Poulos, Nicholas
Pratt-Clarke, Menah
Rowan, Judith
Sanchez, Judge Esteban
Sharpe, Robert
Steigmann, Judge Robert
Sternstein, Allan J.
Van Hagey, William
Winkel, Richard
Yabe, Kozo
Yuhas, Daniel
http://www.law.illinois.edu/faculty-admin/faculty.asp
Hmmm, where is Lynne R. Feldman's name?
It is curious to me how exactly a university chooses its Law School adjunct law faculty. The benefit of adjunct faculty is that they bring invaluable real world experience to the classroom. The downside is the baggage that the attorney adjunct faculty carries.
The attorney adjunct faculty should be about more than legal experience. In order to ensure that the legal community is cultivating ethical, decent young attorneys, there must be a priority placed upon the attorney adjunct faculty's ethical and personal behavior beyond the standard legal experience.Ethics and character are a critical part of the legal practice. I have learned through the research for my book about downstate IL lawyers are far more unethical as a group than Chicago attorneys.I have worked with several of the current University of Illinois College of Law adjunct faculty (Renee Monfort, Marc Ansel and former faculty Lynne Feldman) and whereas they are probably competent attorneys and educators, IMHO they violated my rights as I struggled with the death of my brother and grandmother and panic attacks.
If any attorney in Illinois believes that a fellow attorney is struggling with an emotional problem that distracts him or her from properly practicing law, then the appropriate course of action is to provide the struggling attorney with information about the Illinois Lawyers Assistance Program (LAP).
Inappropriate courses of action includes:
(1) attorneys who are current University of Illinois College of Law Adjunct Faculty making deceptive telephone calls to the struggling attorney's family members to obtain information under false and deceptive pretenses,
(2) attorneys who are current University of Illinois College of Law Adjunct Faculty demanding that the partners in the law firm be allowed to communicate directly with my grief therapist as a condition of employment - and then after communicating with the therapist, current University of Illinois College of Law Adjunct Faculty actually accused me of lying to the therapist,
(3) attorneys who are current University of Illinois College of Law Adjunct Faculty firing the struggling attorney shortly after the attorney admitted to having panic attacks and assured that she was getting help - and then more than one month after the firing, the current College of Law Adjunct Faculty sending a letter to the fired attorney's doctor to ask for a complete list of medications and diagnoses!
[Even more shocking was that I never provided a mental health release and the Carle Clinic Association physician James Whisenand, MD actually hand wrote all of the requested information and sent it to the College of Law Adjunct faculty member.]
It concerns me that attorneys can be obsessed with writing beautiful and technically pristine legal arguments while at the same time losing focus of ethical responsibilities to clients and fellow attorneys.
A good attorney is not made at a law school. A really good attorney is born - born with a core of ethics and decency. No one could ever make me do something unethical or illegal. Never. Other attorneys (many in Central Illinois) do not possess a core of integrity and ethics. All the book learning in the world will never change that.
At some point while I struggled with the death of my grandma (who lived with me for my entire life), the death of my brother, crippling unnecessary orthopedic surgeries and the stress of being a new attorney --- an attorney (and a current University of Illinois College of Law Adjunct Faculty would have been a perfect person for the act) should have discussed with me the importance of Lawyers Assistance Program (LAP).
No one ever helped me while I was a stressed young attorney. I never needed to have the stress develop into depression. I never needed to be harassed and mistreated by my fellow attorneys (and even Champaign County Judges).
Most Champaign County attorneys (and of most concern the current University of Illinois College of Law Adjunct Faculty) knew I was stressed and simply isolated and harassed me. What a waste. What a waste of a decent human being who has a strong core of integrity and ethics combined with a legal education!
Sadly, even "my advocate/attorney" William Moran III of Springfield, Illinois was not interested in what I had already accomplished as an attorney and as a member of the community. Mr. Moran told me that none of that mattered. My anxiety and relatively short period of depression effectively wiped away all of my legal accomplishments.
Mr. Bill Moran told me that my accomplishments did not matter. I just must focus on what damage I caused when I was stressed and suffered depression. I never abused illegal drugs. I always sought help. None of that mattered. In the view of my attorney, the "mental illness" made me incapable of practicing law - ever.
What about the years of discrimination and abuse that I endured by current University of Illinois College of Law Adjunct Faculty members? What about those attorneys' behavior. Apparently not an issue.
Curiously, the Review Board that determined I was ineligible for probation as I completed the treatment for depression because there was no evidence that I accomplished anything as an attorney. Hmmm. But my attorney (William Moran, III) told me that none of that information mattered because the depression wiped out my accomplishments and mentioning them would appear as "excuse making."
I am not excuse making. I am making darn sure that no other attorney in any state who suffers from stress, depression for whatever reason is made to feel damaged. These sensitive people make the best attorneys!!
Writing an article and book on specifics. Stay tuned.
After my association with the law firm of Erwin, Martinkus and Cole (Champaign, Illinois) where
(1) Attorney Lynne Feldman demanded that I participate in her scheme that involved requiring non-speaking immigrant clients pay approximately $40 for a "miscellaneous copying and mailing fee." In fact, Lynne Feldman placed the money in an internal firm account that Feldman used for books and trips. Feldman routinely charged those clients for large copying jobs and certified mailings. IMHO, the extra charge should have been reported to the IRS as attorney fees and, therefore, as taxable income.
Lynne Feldman really did not want me to succeed. She hired me as an associate attorney to help her make money in the area of immigration law. I knew nothing about immigration law. She promised to help me.
At the time, there was another associate (Katie Shan). In Fall 1998, Katie accepted a job with a big firm in Chicago. Katie left me all of her immigration clients. Lynne was livid! Katie's decision was based on the fact that most clients and people in general did not trust Lynne Feldman. But the decision was effectively money out of Feldman's pockets.
(2) I was classified as an independent contractor but the law firm never let me take non-firm, outside work. In addition, the firm took more than 50% of the money I brought into the firm and never told me precisely where the money went. My suspicion and the IRS' suspicion is that the money was that partners took the money for their benefit and did not report the money to the IRS.
(3) Soon after I expressed (to the senior partner) my concern about what I believed was unethical and illegal conduct, attorneys such as James Martinkus began asking my secretary about my mental health. I had confided to the secretary that I took Buspar for panic attacks. The secretary told the partners that she gave me her unused prescription of Buspar because I could not afford to get mine refilled.
Attorney James Martinkus told me that my services were no longer needed (after the ADA violation).
A big problem was that since the firm classified me as an independent contractor, I could not get unemployment insurance.
(4) My clients did not want to stay at the law firm of Erwin, Martinkus and Cole. They certainly did not want Feldman to be their attorney.
So, I started a law firm in my apartment just to try to service my clients. But the law firm was determined that would not happen.
Lynne Feldman sent me emails suggesting that I just leave town.
Jim Martinkus made me pay him money for expenses related to a deposition that I took in one of his cases!
In fact, the firm made me pay tons of money for the client files.
The firm told me that they would ruin me. They tried.
_______________________________
So, after the craziness with the attorneys at Erwin, Martinkus and Cole . . .
there was a bizarre situation where the City of Champaign sued me based on some claim that I damaged an orange speed cone. Huh? It happened in the middle of a week night and I simply had never even been in that area of Champaign.
Something weird was going on. And now , seven (7) years later, I want to know what happened. Who got the proverbial ball rolling? Was it someone associated with the Champaign City Council? Who could be in a position to get a lawsuit started against someone when there was absolutely no basis? It took years for me to have the suit dismissed with prejudice. It cost me money and stress.
Shortly after I got the suit dismissed, Attorney James D. Green (who tried very hard to have me disbarred), resigned his newly re-elected position on the City Council.
Other people have questioned why Attorney James D. Green resigned as a city councilman so shortly after his re-election.
It kinda sad when about the only interesting thing happening in Champaign city government is the replacement of one of its newly-elected members.
Jim Green was re-elected to the District 4 seat last month and promptly resigned after suddenly (and unexpectably?) taking a job with a law firm that does business with the city. This still sounds fishy every time I read it. Green got 1411 votes of 1833 cast in his district, which isn't bad even if you're running unopposed. He then promptly quit.
http://anoldguy.blogspot.com/2005_05_01_archive.html
I cannot wait to get the responses from the FOIA request. Stay tuned.
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