Crime & Safety

Drew Peterson Lawyer Takes Three-Month License Suspension: Tribune

Accused of stealing a client's money, one of Drew Peterson's attorneys agreed to a three-month suspension of his law license, the Chicago Tribune reported.

A member of convicted wife-killer Drew Peterson's defense team took a three-month license suspension to settle a disciplinary case brought against him, the Chicago Tribune reported.

Clarendon Hills attorney David Peilet agreed to the suspension, according to the Tribune.

Peilet did not join Peterson's defense team until after the disgraced former Bolingbrook cop was found guilty of murdering his third wife, Kathleen Savio, in September. Peilet was part of a failed effort to win a new trial for Peterson.

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According to the Tribune story, Peilet was accused of stealing $4,000 from a client he represented in a Cook County drug case. A complaint was filed against him with the Illinois Attorney Registration & Disciplinary Commission.

"The ARDC charges stem from a 2010 drug case in Cook County that Peilet handled for a client named Angel Montiel, who was charged with selling cocaine to an undercover Chicago police officer," said the Tribune story, which went on to note:

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Peilet's trouble with the Attorney Registration & Disciplinary Commission predate his involvement with Peterson. But another of Peterson's lawyers also has been reported to the commission, and for conduct related to the Peterson case.

In March, Will County Judge Edward Burmila reported attorney Joel Brodsky to the ARDC.

After Peterson was hit with a 38-year prison sentence for Savio's murder, Brodsky did a WGN Morning News interview and blamed Peterson for moves made at the trial.

Judge Burmila first said he was shocked when he watched the WGN interview, then later said, "I wish I could think of a word beyond 'shocked' to apply to Mr. Brodsky's appearance on television."

Brodsky was no longer a part of Peterson's defense team when Burmila reported him to the ARDC. Other lawyers representing Peterson had blamed Brodsky for blowing the case and claimed his performance was a reason for granting Peterson a new trial.

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