A former Kaua’i attorney has been disbarred from practicing law in Hawai’i, and was ordered to pay restitution to a client. Justices of the Hawai’i Supreme Court disbarred Andrew L. Lichtenberg on Tuesday, Dec. 20, and ordered that he pay
A former Kaua’i attorney has been disbarred from practicing law in Hawai’i, and was ordered to pay restitution to a client.
Justices of the Hawai’i Supreme Court disbarred Andrew L. Lichtenberg on Tuesday, Dec. 20, and ordered that he pay $374,800 in restitution to a client. According to a spokesperson in the state Office of Disciplinary Counsel, Lichtenberg’s multiple ethical violations included misappropriating tiple his client’s retainer and real-estate-sale proceeds, intentionally disobeying his client’s instructions to deposit the proceeds into her Louisiana bank account, and perpetrating a fraudulent scheme to induce leaders at an escrow company to deposit the proceeds into his client-trust account.
The office spokesperson wanted to warn members of the public that Lichtenberg will not be eligible to practice law until reinstated by justices of the Hawai’i Supreme Court.
Lichtenberg cannot accept any new retainers, clients or legal matters, the spokesperson said.
He must also return to his existing clients their papers, property, and unearned advance fee payments, according to the spokesperson. Lichtenberg, 59, was admitted to the Hawai’i bar on March 5, 2003, and is a graduate of the Western New England College of Law.
He is currently detained, pending trial in a related matter, according to the spokesperson.
