For the fourth time, Iowa lawyer is sanctioned for neglecting client cases

The Iowa Judicial Building. (Photo and seal courtesy of the Iowa Judicial Branch)

An Iowa-licensed attorney has been sanctioned a fourth time for neglectful handling of clients’ cases as a court-appointed attorney.

State records indicate that in March 2024, the Iowa Attorney Disciplinary Board opened an inquiry into complaints and allegations that attorney Travis Armbrust, formerly of Sheldon, had neglected multiple appellate-court cases.

The board initiated a disciplinary investigation and in September signed an affidavit consenting to a law-license suspension of up to 60 days. The Iowa Supreme Court then imposed a 30-day suspension of Armbrust’s license.

The board alleged that Armbrust violated professional regulations that require lawyers to keep clients informed as to the status of their case, to act with reasonable diligence in representing a client, and to make reasonable efforts to expedite litigation.

According to the board, Armbrust handled at least 11 appellate cases that each resulted in him receiving at least one default notice as well as a monetary penalty. As of September, Armbrust still owed $2,400 in unpaid penalties.

In the 11 cases, Armbrust was hit with a total of 18 default notices. In some of the cases, he missed filing deadlines didn’t result in default notices. In two of the matters, he was removed from the cases by the court after he failed to cure the defaults.

In one case, the board said, Armbrust’s communication with his client was so lacking the client wasn’t even aware Armbrust was his attorney until six months after the court had appointed Armbrust to represent the man. The court later had to intervene and order Armbrust to send copies of briefs to his client — an order that Armbrust allegedly disregarded.

Armbrust was disciplined on three previous occasions. In October 2021, he was reprimanded for his removal from an appellate case after he failed to cure a default notice and demonstrated poor communication with his clients. In May 2023, he was reprimanded for insufficient communication with another appellate-court client. And in March 2024, he was reprimanded for failure to comply with appellate deadlines resulting in a dismissal of his client’s case.

In recommending a 30-day suspension of Armbrust’s law license, the board cited the “severely aggravating factor” that Armbrust continued to incur default notices in cases even after being reprimanded two or three times for that specific issue.

In his September affidavit consenting to a suspension of up to 60 days, Armbrust stated he had recently moved from Iowa and was “trying to no longer practice law there, but these complaints are preventing me from moving on and obtaining my license in Minnesota.”

In response, the board stated that while Armbrust “blames the disciplinary process for the impediment to his admission to the Minnesota bar,” his difficulties in being licensed in that state were “due only to the consequences of his own misconduct.”

Armbrust also defended his actions by noting that all of the cases in which his actions were questioned involved his work as a court-appointed attorney.

“I should never have taken court-appointed work,” he stated in his affidavit. “Nobody should take court-appointed work.”

While Armbrust’s 30-day suspension took effect on Sept. 27, 2024, state records indicate it remains in effect, indicating he may not have applied for reinstatement. The court’s order of suspension states that Armbrust can apply for reinstatement after paying any outstanding fines related to the disciplinary action.

Image Credits and Reference: https://www.yahoo.com/news/fourth-time-iowa-lawyer-sanctioned-212844939.html