Indiana Attorney Disbarred for ‘Pervasive Financial Misconduct’

An Indiana lawyer who used settlement funds for personal expenses, forged her paralegal’s signature, and lied to the state supreme court disciplinary commission was disbarred by the court.

“Put simply, the criminal and dishonest nature of Respondent’s pattern of misconduct demonstrates that she cannot be safely recommended to the public as a person fit to practice law,” the Indiana Supreme Court’s Tuesday opinion said.

Nicole Fraley violated ethics rules on safeguarding client property and those prohibiting making false statements to a disciplinary committee and committing fraud, the court said.

Fraley told the commission that two checks totaling about $7,800 drawn ...