Four So. Nevada lawyers suspended for misconduct

Appeal Capitol Bureau

The Nevada Supreme Court has ordered four Southern Nevada lawyers suspended from practice for misconduct.

In two of the cases, including that of Jose Pallares, the court ruled the Southern Nevada Disciplinary Board recommendation was too lenient and increased the penalty.

Pallares was on a 90-day suspension for misappropriating funding in a case when he ran into trouble again. He was accused of using money that should have gone to clients to pay his office lease and his staff, falsely advising a client that the doctor in her case had been paid when he had not.

Two clients involved in the cases were subjected to collection for allegedly not paying their bills.

The State Bar originally wanted Pallares disbarred, but the disciplinary panel recommended a one-year suspension from practice.

The Nevada Supreme Court, noting this was Pallares's fourth disciplinary matter, decided the appropriate penalty was to suspend him from practice for two years.

The high court agreed with the disciplinary board's recommendation that Gary M. Segal be suspended from practicing law for six months and one day. He was charged with failing to competently or diligently litigate two cases and with failing to pursue alimony payments and property title transfers in a divorce matter.

The board tripled a recommended 30 day suspension of Janice E. Smith for putting herself in a situation where she was effectively representing one client against the interests of another client.

According to the court order, she "took sides" with one client against the other.

Finally, the high court suspended William L. Wolfbrandt for 30 days for failing to meet deadlines to timely appeal a criminal judgment against a client.