DES MOINES – The Iowa Supreme Court Attorney Disciplinary Board ruled that Mason City attorney Kristy B. Arzberger violated the Iowa Rule of Professional Conduct for “collecting extraordinary fees” and suspended her law license.
In the resolution to this disciplinary case filed November 10, 2016, the Iowa Supreme Court Attorney Disciplinary Board charged the respondent, Kristy B. Arzberger, with a violation of Iowa Rule of Professional Conduct 32:1.5(a) (“A lawyer shall not make an agreement for, charge, or collect an unreasonable fee or an unreasonable amount for expenses, or violate any restrictions imposed by law.”). This case arises from Arzberger charging and collecting extraordinary fees in a probate case without court approval. After a hearing, the commission recommended a thirty-day suspension.
The board concluded that Arzberger violated Iowa Rule of Professional Conduct 32:1.5(a).
“Based on the (facts of the case), the commission came to the double- barreled conclusion that Arzberger ‘charged and collected an unreasonable fee and violated restrictions imposed by law’ under rule 32:1.5(a). Taking into account the aggravating and mitigating factors, the commission recommended that Arzberger be suspended for thirty days.”
According to court records, Arzberger is a Mason City lawyer licensed to practice law in Iowa. She began practicing law in 1986 and has been in private practice as a solo practioner since 1988. Her practice has included family law, agribusiness matters, real estate, and probate work. Over the years, she has had a commendable record of public service and community activities in the Mason City area, including service on boards of directors of the Crisis Intervention Service, the Red Cross, Mason City Noon Rotary, Girl Scouts of North Iowa; the United Way Allocation Committee; and the foundation board of the North Iowa Area Community College. She has been active in church affairs, has mentored at-risk youth, and has provided pro bono legal work.
Arzberger has a prior history of private admonitions. In 2002, the Board privately admonished her for falsely telling a client that a petition for visitation rights had been forwarded to the sheriff for service. While Arzberger indicated that mistake was made by her secretary, the Board concluded that Arzberger failed to supervise nonlawyer personnel in connection with their communications with clients. In 2008, the Board privately admonished Arzberger for conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice when, in an appeal of a dissolution-of-marriage case, she ignored a notice of default for want of prosecution.
Kristy got in trouble with the board again but nobody seems to be reporting on it.
Kristy Arzberger is a nasty person. She’s a drunk. She’s a criminal that drives drunk and puts all of our loved ones in danger. Call a cab you dirty drunk! She is an adulteress. You can find her at Bob’s house on Carolina in is hot tub. She threatens people by saying, “I will destroy your life.” Then she writes anonymous letters to their jobs and families. Her staff at the law office talks about it and admits they are the ones who type the letters and mail them and make the phone calls. It is disturbing how many years the court system in North Iowa has let her get away with behavior that is said to be, “On the line of unethical but not over the line.” Baloney, many people know she crosses that line all the time and do nothing about it. She’s incredibly greedy. If she gives any money to charity or does any work for causes it’s probably to try to cover up something dirty she has done. She’s probably desperate to have somebody keep her out of trouble. She’s been to treatment for pain medication addiction but she talks about other people with the same struggles as if she is somehow superior to them. Anybody that hires her as an attorney deserves to pay the price she charges. She unethical and people pay her to continue with that behavior. I hope someday she is charged and convicted for the crimes she commits that haven’t been publicly displayed. At least not yet, they haven’t been made public. But we all might see the true Kristy get some karma she so much deserves.
Now she is trying to get her money back by finding old cases and recharging them for shit she claims was there before two years ago!
They need to through this bitch in jail where she belongs! Thief!
I think you mean “THROW”.
She should be disbarred ! Period !!!! Damn crooked lawyers
She creates an environment that makes a bad situation worse. Rips families apart for a buck! Total loser
I had her for a lawyer years ago. She way overcharged and didn’t follow through on a couple things. And of course…. she blamed her assistant. If she’s crooked, then she got what she deserved. Period.
I have to agree with Kristen on this one!! Kristy has always been a great advocate in our community. I don’t understand why a lot of you are freaking out over lawyer fees. They are expensive. DUH! I paid over 50,000 for my child custody case in Iowa City. It was worth every sent. I love my lawyer consider her a life saver and would DO it again. I would have hired Kristy for my case had we lived closer.
So it doesn’t matter to you that she misstated the law and lied repeatedly to the lawyer’s board? You don’t care about that huh? Seems consistent with the people who hire her I guess
Should have spent a little bit of that $50,000 on some spelling lessons… What’s a CENT though when ya have that much?
Jamie, you can’t defend a crime of the heart. Stop, please don’t defend her. This is a crime of the heart. Living and stealing!
I had Kristy years ago. I couldn’t pay her the $500 right away she let me make payments yes there were some frustrating times with her but you know what in the end my ex and I did shared custody all went well! I like her!
ALSO I HAD TO HAVE 1800 UP FRONT AND ANOTHER 5000. PLUS A COSIGNER FOR HER TO WORK WITH ME. I DID THINK SHE WAS VERY HIGH. AND THERE WERE THINGS THAT I WANTED AND DIDN’T GET. BUT I DID GET BOTH KIDS AND A GOOD CHILD SUPPORT. BUT STILL PAID TO MUCH
So would like some of my money back if possible. Mine was from 2013 to 2014. Angie tapp
I had her as my divorce lawyer back in 2013 to 2014 and how do I get some of my over charges money back from her. Angie Tapp
Angie, this was from a probate case as the article states and not from your case or all cases. If you think you were “overcharged,” you will have to try and sue her and see where it goes.
Oh I see. I thought it was about all of her cases.
Hey but maybe in this 30 day suspension she will have time to get another OWI to add to the many she has under her belt already. But these people say she is a great person that is true BS!!!
Hey Anonymous, don’t get being a good lawyer and being a greasy lawyer confused. She is not a particularly good lawyer. She bullies her clients, like you and your family, into buying what she’s slinging. She chronically unprepared and loses more than she wins, trust me.
Anonymous, were you on the other side of the table from her before? Is that why you are tearing her down so much because she chewed you up and spit you out? That is what a good lawyer does, takes cares of her clients and gets what they deserve. I have friends and family that have used her and have nothing but praise, yes a little spendy but you get what you pay for.
Wow, just read the actual decision. There is no question about it. They found she lied on at least 3 different occasions and, as usual, blamed it on her staff.
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0ahUKEwjZhqDFtKHQAhWD7IMKHUt_DgkQFggbMAA&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.iacourtcommissions.org%2FAttachmentHelper.do%3Fid%3D181480&usg=AFQjCNEaMHI9BjAfqiguBEIAoMDJUz-KYw&bvm=bv.138169073,d.amc
I know Kristy and her daughter personally and they are not evil like you are all claiming. They are caring people and donate alot of money and time back to the community. Please stop bashing them personally if you don’t know them. Professionally Kristy is a person I would definitely want on my side of the table as some have skaid will do whatever it takes to win her case. This may have been a poor decision on her part. But don’t let one of your mistakes tarnish your whole image and character, I am sure many of us had made errors in our lives as well. My 2 cents.
Kristy probably wrote this
The “aggravating factors” and why she was suspended rather than just reprimanded and made to give the money back were that she was found to have LIED to the board and given false legal advice. Read the decision and what they say she did when caught. It is public.
Thanks for the heads up.
Here is a link to the public record.
http://law.justia.com/cases/iowa/supreme-court/2016/152109.html
wow – I used Christy a long time ago. Thought the prices were high but knew that she did a great job so I found a way to pay the fees. However, you people who get on here and make comments anonymously and rip her apart for everything from being a crook to an adulteress are unbelievable! The great thing about it is nobody can come back and air your dirty laundry because they don’t know who you are! If you cant say something nice – KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT…this is why our world is the way it is today…maybe you want to leave the country and go to Canada as well…Bye Bye!!!
Canada actually has very strict immigration laws all ready in place. Much like the ones Team Trump would like to put in place to help protect our own country. So moving to Canada is probably a case of easier said than done.
So I guess we are stuck with all the haters!
Hey when you are good everyone hates you, look at the NE Patriots, Cowboys, Jeff Gordon all were good at what they do and everyone hates them for being winners. Cant have your cake and eat it too.
Is She still dating Bob on the side?
$1,000 for a consultation fee is not outrageous. I contacted another lawyer in the area via email about the adoption process, and that was his consultation fee as well.
There is no such thing as a $1000.00 consultation fee. You’re probably referring to a retainer. Nobody charges that much for a consultation and if they did then they should be charged.
She is a crook and should have her license suspended permanently
She got herself in trouble again July 2019
Kristy is WORTHLESS! She’s evil and will do whatever it takes to win a court case! She has worthless office help as well that is just as crooked as she is. Her practice should be shut down forever!!! The amount of money she charges to be evil is ridiculous as well!!!!!
I totally agree with the above. I have had to sit across from this evil woman and she is just a nasty person with no morals!!!!
Yes she is! Her ” office ” help that she blames issues on is just as bad so overall the entire office has no morals and are all to blame on such a horrible practice she has! She doesn’t have a good name anywhere in North Iowa.
“she will do whatever it takes to win a court case!” That is more of an argument in her favor. That is a quality I would look for in a lawyer.
Honest people have morals, I guess I would not look for a quality of lying just to win.. but that’s why there are so many crooked people in this world and the court system is busy.
7 years ago when i was looking for a divorce lawyer she told me i needed $1,000 just to come in and talk to her. And then $5,000 and a co-signer if i wanted her to represent me.
I have heard this for years. Also, she was a terrible lawyer. Half ass representation for her clients.
My former Brother-in-Law had her as his lawyer for his divorce. We thought he was being nickle and dimed for everything.
Sounds like he was taken to the cleaners by 2 women during his divorce.
Kristy and Hillary should get together.
Lawyer fees are ridiculous enough. How outrageous do they have to get to be considered extraordinary?