MT. VERNON — A Mt. Vernon attorney has had her law license suspended by the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission.
According to information released from the ARDC, Cheryl Ann Powell had her license suspended for one year and until further order of the court, with the suspension stayed after 60 days by a two-year period of conditional probation. The suspension is effective on June 11th, 2019.
The ARDC reports that Powell had improperly revealed client confidences when she disclosed, without authority, her client’s consideration of legal action involving the client’s son.
She also reportedly failed to adequately communicate with the client and made inaccurate statements in connection with bill statements.
The ARDC report says it found she did not comply with discovery in another case and did not adequately communicate with her client. In a third case, Powell allegedly failed to appear for her client’s scheduled adoption proceeding.
In mitigation, the ARDC found that Powell had not been previously disciplined and had been cooperative in the disciplinary process.
Powell has been licensed to practice law since 1988 and at one point in the late 90’s served as an assistant Marion County Public Defender.