Court suspends four LV lawyers

Tuesday, March 29, 2005 | 9:52 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- A Las Vegas lawyer, who had problems with depression, anxiety and alcohol, has been suspended by the Nevada Supreme Court for two years for misappropriating money from his client.

Jose C. Pallares is one of four lawyers suspended by the court Monday for various infractions.

Pallares, according to the court records, failed to return $16,000 of a $40,000 judgment won for one of his clients. In another case, he didn't pay the $960 doctor bill for a client as required by settlement.

This was Pallares' fourth disciplinary action and the State Bar of Nevada wanted Pallares disbarred. A disciplinary committee had recommended a one-year suspension but the Supreme Court said that was too lenient.

In his disciplinary hearing, Pallares presented character witnesses including District Judge Valerie Adair, Justices of the Peace Doug Smith and Tony Abbatangelo.

Pallares paid restitution to his clients. He said he had stopped taking his medication for depression and had stopped attending AA meetings.

"According to Pallares, he would go to court for his remaining criminal calendar in the mornings, return to the office with his files, and then go drink in the afternoon," the court said. Because the two-year suspension extends back to May 24, 2003, it will expire in two months.

Pallares said he is now taking his medication and going to AA meetings.

Before he can be reinstated to practice law, Pallares must show he continued his treatment for anxiety, depression and alcolohism, continue regular attendance at AA and he would be prohibited from handling any trust account for a period determined by the Southern Nevada Disciplinary Board.

In another decision, the court ordered a six months and one day suspension for Gary Segal of Las Vegas who was accused of failing to pursue lawsuits and failing to keep his clients informed of their progress.

Segal said his problem arose because he was working alone. He said since January 2004 he has associated with another attorney and he is better able to meet deadlines, keep track of his cases and respond to clients.

The court also issued a 30-day suspension to Las Vegas lawyer Janice Smith, accused of a conflict of interest in her conduct in representing a corporation in which the two officers had a disagreement. The court said Smith, at the very least, should have advised them to seek independent counsel.

The court also approved a 30-day suspension for attorney William Wolfbrandt of Las Vegas for failing to follow the Supreme Court rules in fast track appeals in criminal cases.