► Attorney Ivan Abrams of Tucson; ethical misfit Print
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Attorney Ivan Abrams of Tucson; ethical misfit

 
The state of Arizona presented Ivan Safyan Abrams with a law license in 1991 after he graduated from the University of Pittsburgh Law School.
 
The Arizona State Bar found Ivan guilty of the following misconduct.
  1. Misconduct involved multiple offenses
  2. Engaged in a pattern of misconduct
  3. Failed to deposit client funds in required client trust account
  4. Failed to timely refund unearned fees
In one matter, Ivan was hired by a group of homeowners to perform legal research and attend meetings regarding the status of their homes. Ivan was paid $5,000; however, there was no written fee agreement and Ivan failed to deposit the funds into his trust account as required. 
After realizing he had over-billed his clients by $1,081, Ivan was unable to refund the fee because there were insufficient funds in the trust account.
 
In another matter, Ivan was hired to represent a client against several family members and the Catholic Church. He was paid $5,200, which he again failed to deposit into a required client trust account. Again, Ivan overcharged the client to the tune of $2,000, but again was unable to make a refund because there were insufficient funds in the client trust account.
 
In a third matter, Ivan was hired to represent a client in a criminal matter. The total fee was $40,000, of which the client paid $5,000. To secure a portion of the balance, Ivan agreed to take title to a parcel of land, which he later sold for $25,000 as pay for his fees. Ivan failed to reduce the transaction and the terms to writing and failed to advise the client in writing to seek the advice of independent counsel.
 
As a consequence of his misconduct, the cheerleaders of Attorney Misfits sitting on the Arizona Supreme Court punished Ivan by gifting him with a complimentary censure.
 
As we speak (ca. June 2013) Ivan is employed by the Pinal County Attorney’s Office at 9918 East Colette Street in Tucson, Arizona.