Legal Malpractice Case Has a Happy Ending

Chicago, ILA legal malpractice case of the worst kind—taking advantage of a senior citizen—has been settled and the ending is a happy one, but not without some heartache, betrayal and financial losses in the process. The actions of a son and daughter-in-law of the victim, together with the actions of the perpetrator's legal counsel, resulted in a legal malpractice suit.

The August 3rd edition of the Chicago Tribune outlines the sad story of Angelo Biondo, a decorated World War II veteran who wished to spend his twilight years with his war buddies at the Smith Village retirement home on Chicago's South Side. His wife had died in 2004, and Biondo expressed his wishes to his son and daughter-in-law.

According to the report, Sharon Biondo, the victim's daughter-in-law, enlisted the help of lawyer Gary R. Williams, presumably to draw up the last will and testament that Angelo Biondo had been expecting.

However, rather than a will, the lawyer prepared a living trust with eldest son Bernard and his wife in the drivers' seat. The trust soon took control of the victim's home and it was sold. The elderly veteran was subsequently moved into a run-down home in Mount Greenwood owned by Bernard and Sharon Biondo—a home that was then purchased by the trust.

Williams served as attorney for both transactions. He was accused of misconduct in a three-count complaint by the Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission, details of which were only recently made public. A legal malpractice lawsuit brought against Williams by Angelo Biondo was settled in May, with no criminal charges related to the Biondo case filed against Williams.

It should be noted that Williams' law license was suspended for two years in the 1980s after he was found guilty of federal mail fraud, according to the Tribune report.

The elder Biondo is now residing, at the age of 85, in Smith Village. However he was not able to take advantage of a preferred price he had negotiated with the facility in 2006, and wound up paying $10,000 more in funds to secure his accommodations.

The Tribune reported that Biondo was active in Veterans Affairs and served on the USS Salt Lake City during World War II. The aging veteran presumably never would have dreamed that in his twilight years he would be in need of legal malpractice experts and require the services of a Legal Malpractice Lawyer.