Oct
02
Greenwood suspended
Editor’s note: This story first appeared Thursday night. It drew an immediate complaint from a reader who felt Greenwood should be spared the public reporting of his suspension because of his ill health and his current status as a private citizen. The reader also noted that there was never any reason to suggest Greenwood did anything wrong during his service on the D99 board. After lengthy consideration and despite my own sympathy for Greenwood’s poor health, I have decided to publish the post rather than ignore the public record. Some of the alleged professional misconduct that is now officially sanctioned occurred while Greenwood was a sworn public official. This makes it noteworthy. Sadly, current ill health does not excuse past transgressions, as we have seen in many recent national and international cases. Whether or not the DGreport or any other news outlet publishes the sanctions, they have occurred for apparent cause and are in the public domain. Those who disagree with this editorial decision are welcome to comment or to email me at dgreport@hotmail.com.
Former D99 Board of Education member and Downers Grove attorney Craig H. Greenwood received a nine-month suspension from practicing law for mismanaging funds held in an escrow account, neglecting client matters, and failing to cooperate during the ensuing investigation conducted by the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission of the Illinois Supreme Court. The suspension begins Oct. 13.
Greenwood was a 2005 Downers Grove Community Advocates-backed candidate for D99 along with slate-mates Julia Kennedy Beckman, Terry Pavesich and Allyn Barnett. Beginning in 2008, Greenwood missed several meetings due to poor health, leading to his decision not to run again in 2009.
Greenwood was accused of 14 violations stated in the Nature of the Case.
On January 16, 2007, the administrator filed a three-count complaint against Greenwood, followed on March 22, 2007, by a five-count amended complaint. The administrator alleged that respondent Greenwood converted client funds, failed to provide competent representation, neglected client matters, failed to return unearned fees, and failed to respond to a lawful demand for information from the administrator.
Greenwood filed an answer to the amended complaint, admitting some of the factual allegations, denying some of the factual allegations, and denying all allegations of misconduct.
Hearings on the matter were held on June 5, October 14, and 15, 2008, at the Chicago offices of the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission. The ARDC filed its report on April 13, 2009 , recommending he be suspended from the practice of law for nine months.
Six witnesses testified against him about alleged problems relating to integrity, truthfulness, and timeliness beginning in 2003 and continuing through 2006.
Three witnesses testified for Greenwood, including:
Megan Schroeder: “Meghan (sic) Schroeder is a member of the District 99 School Board. Respondent is also a member of the School Board. (Tr. 277-78). She has known Respondent since 2002 and knows others in the community who know him. She opined that Respondent has a very good reputation for honesty, integrity and truthfulness.”
and Julia Kennedy Beckman: “Julia Beckman is also a member of the School Board and has known Respondent since 1993. (Tr. 282-83). Beckman believes that Respondent has a very good reputation in the community for honesty and integrity.”
Greenwood stated during the hearings that “he also provides the School Board with pro bono legal advice and monitors litigation involving the board.”
Greenwood, along with supporting testimony from Schroeder and Beckman, also testified to his own poor health. Greenwood said he suffered a stroke in 2004.
On May 2, 2009, the final D99 board meeting of his term (a meeting Greenwood missed), Beckman noted prior to adjournment Sine Die that due to Craig Greenwood’s poor health, he had been unable to attend the last few meetings and was unable to run for another term.
M.R.23153 – In re: Craig Homer Greenwood. (September 22, 2009)
Disciplinary Commission.
The motion by the Administrator of the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission to approve and confirm the report and recommendation of the Hearing Board is allowed, and respondent Craig Homer Greenwood is suspended from the practice of law for nine (9) months.
Suspension effective October 13, 2009.
Respondent Craig Homer Greenwood shall reimburse the Client Protection Program Trust Fund for any Client Protection payments arising from his conduct prior to the termination of the period of suspension.
Order entered by the Court.
You can read the full ARD Synopsis of Hearing Board Report and Recommendation here.
On average, 236 of the approximately 5,900 investigations docketed each year result in the filing of formal charges because the investigation produced evidence of serious misconduct.
Failure to cooperate in the investigative stages of a case is a separate ethical offense which can and often does lead to additional discipline.
The Client Protection Trust Fund reimburses claimants who have suffered losses caused by the dishonest conduct of a disciplined attorney. Awards may be made in an amount up to $50,000 per claim and up to $500,000 per attorney. Greenwood must reimburse the Fund prior to the termination of his suspension.
Greenwood was also investigated and censured by the Illinois Supreme Court June 25, 1992, for violations beginning in 1983.
Did the Advocates do any due diligence on this recommendations or simply let President Beckman and Member Schroeder put their buddy in?
Also, what happens to the “Free Pro-Bono” legal work Mr. Greenwood claims to have done for the D99 Board?
Is an attorney allowed to be part of the Board and represent the Board in legal matters as well?
It seems to be another potential conflict of interest for our D99 Board.
Followed the links and read the case. This guy blew off court dates, saying he’s sick, his Dad’s sick, and his son’s sick. He said he would submit proof that all the illnesses were real, then refused to provide any evidence. He took money and didn’t do any work, lied to clients, and tried to blow off the group investigating the complaints. Made a boatload of promises he never kept, even said he would quit a case then never did.
Crooked lawyer caught. Nine months is too easy. Those two School Board Commissioners testifying make for a good laugh. Only his political cronies standing by his side.
Why? I can’t imagine more then 6 people in the entire village that care about this story-and he’s in poor health. Did this really need to appear in this blog?
@Meat- Why? Because EJ and MT have taken it upon themselves to make this a red vs blue site that attacks the “opposition” even in non-partisan issues. Having been “looped” in, one of the more prominent contributors that is “not a partner of this site” has made this a political playgound based on the township agenda. Check out his old site.
P.S. Get well, Craig.
“Why?” — whoever you are — I resent your implication. I have no political agenda whatsoever and anyone who checks my voting record will find that to be the case. Feel free. You know who I am.
As always, you, Meat and anyone else is free to publicly disagree with the owner and operator of this site.
Thanks for providing the information, I was interested in the story. Not amazed or fascinated, but definitely interested. “Oh, that’s what happened,” I said to myself. For those who are not interested I have a suggestion. This is what I do – I just skip to the next story without reading the one that doesn’t interest me.
Please point out any partisan or even subjective components of this story. Five year olds attack the speaker instead of the argument when they don’t like what they hear and have no decent come back. When adults do it it’s pathetic.
Whether this story gets coverage in any other local news source it remains to be seen. We won’t know until at least Wednesday, will we? But it most certainly deserves to see the light of day and is perfectly suited to this local blog.
Would I want to know if my CPA lost her license for misdeeds performed during the years she also did my taxes? Is it important to know if a surgeon can’t practice medicine for a while because of gross malpractice while my grandma was also under his care? Seems reasonable.
Should we be quesy over an attorney/elected school board member who oversaw a multi million dollar budget, set policy and concurrently committed these punishable acts in his professional life? Shouldn’t we be outraged that he apparently continues to “also provide(s) the School Board with pro bono legal advice”?!!!
Shouldn’t we question the judgment of the individuals who vocally support him in court?
The Village budget and it’s impact are small potatoes compared to what the School Boards helm. Wake up people.
@EJ- Easy remarks without much substance (as usual). Your counterpart may not be an \”owner\” but you are tied at the hip. Your site, his stories, combined guilt.
Also, easy statement as to your voting record since no one knows how you vote but you.
Also, Also. The random post questioning Mrs. Beckman\’s role as a Township Committeeman (person?)…COME ON! Seriously. Never have I seen a more planted comment so your partner could post a detailed response.
WN: My goal always has been to encourage readers to draw their own conclusions while freely offering my own. If you want to check my voting record, all you need do is ask the precinct committeeman or woman of your choice. Let me save you the trouble: I vote R sometimes, D sometimes. I owe no allegiance to a party, choosing instead to vote for the issue or the candidate that best represents my independent views.
My so-called “partner” is the only person to date — with the occasional exception of the incomparably funny Meat — who has taken me up on my repeated invitation to contribute to this blog, and I am happy to entertain his views (and yours) whether or not they are my own. To prove my point, I will invite you to contribute a post. Can I pencil you in for Tuesday?
As for this post — no opinion, strictly fact. Do you think that ignoring the facts will somehow make them go away? I don’t. Are you attempting to somehow blame me for Greenwood’s problems? They exist, whether or not this blog or any other new outlet reports on them.
You meant incomparably querulous Meat, right? Or did you mean Meat doesn’t compare to anything that’s funny?
donkey 100% right on. IMHO, it’s not okay to be a crook, it’s not okay to be a crook when you’re running and holding an elected seat, and it’s typical Illinois politics to attack people who point out who the crooks are.
Back to being mostly a reader. Thank you EJ.
Sideline-
Is this about your fan club initiation fee? Fine, I’ll wave it. But no decoder pin or signed photo for you..
Cetain bloggers are missing a point here.
Certain individuals in this community set up a phoney organization to get there personal agenda’s passed.
They then recommend a person to be a trusted public servant looking out for our kids.
We then find out he has MAJOR credibility issues which were somehow missed when the Advocates did their screening, interviewing and recommendations.
The Advocates have mislead this community for years and now it is falling in on them. Only thing left to find out about them is if they are tied to ACORN?
Anyone know?
@EJ- Please allow me a moment of gratitude and puffy chestedness. The simple fact that DGTRO members call out each other and support the divisive attack at folks that openly support a political view other than their own makes my point. Mr. DGS Football may want to weigh in here, but his buddy already has.
Thanks, Greg.
The End. I am going to pick pumpkins and maybe some squash…butternut or acorn?
Excuse me, point? Where’s the divisive attack? Please explain your cryptic comment for those of us who have a hard time following along.
Can’t wait to hear if Wondering Neighbor is ready to contribute a post.
Why?/Wondering Neighbor/point made,
Whom ever you are. Maybe you could add some substance to this conversation instead of attacking everyone else. You are like that insecure popular kid in high school who isn’t happy with how his life turned out so you make fun of other people.