Attorney Eugene Stahnke Deerfield, IL; ethical troll

The state of Illinois presented Eugene C. Stahnke with a law license in 1983 after he graduated from the John Marshall Law School.

The Illinois Registration and Disciplinary Commission found Gene guilty of the following misconduct.

• Prepared instruments giving bequests from his clients to himself and his wife.
• Converted at least $2,600.21 entrusted to him in two client matters
• Breached his fiduciary duties owed to his clients
• Engaged in undue influence and overreaching by preparing instruments giving himself a prohibited substantial gift
• Engaged in a conflict of interest, by representing a client when the representation may be materially limited because of his own personal interests ,
• Failed to act with due diligence (slacker)
• Engaged in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation regarding sham notarization of client’s signature 
• Failed to deposit escrow funds into his client fund account

As a direct consequence of his misconduct, the enablers for Attorney Misfits sitting on the Illinois Supreme Court punished Gene by gifting him with a complimentary 18-month suspension of his law license.

As we speak (ca. April 2019), Gene practices at 231 Forestway Drive in Deerfield, Illinois.