Illinois Lawyer Faces Discipline Yet Again

Barringtonattorney Steven Miner faces disciplinary action for writing his two childreninto the will of an elderly client and stealing his money.  In 2004, Miner had Glenn Burren, an oldfriend and client, sign a typewritten will giving Miner’s children 40% ofBurren’s estate.  Burren also gave Minerpower of attorney and gave him checks totaling $500,000.  After Burren’s children contested the willand tried to recover the half million, a Cook County judge ordered Miner torepay the estate $700,000.

Minerwas previously disciplined in 1998 for forging the names of a client’s childrenon a property deed.  In 2009, Miner fileda “bad mothering” lawsuit against his ex-wife alleging intentional inflictionof emotional distress on their children for offenses such as a poorly chosenbirthday card, a below-average homecoming dress, failing to visit a car show with their daughter,and threatening to call the police on their son for not buckling up.  The lawsuit was dismissed by an appeals courtafter two years of litigation.

See Steve Schmadeke, ‘Bad Mothering’ Attorney Faces State Discipline,Chicago Tribune, Aug. 11, 2013.