Vivian Hammoud, a former NIU administrator convicted of forgery, delayed her sentencing Friday when she dumped her lawyer.

In a 10-point motion filed Thursday morning, Hammoud charged that her court-appointed attorney, James Groat, misrepresented her throughout the trial.

Among other things, the motion stated that Groat failed to keep her informed of the filing deadlines of certain motions and refused to file others.

In her Friday appearance, Hammoud told DeKalb County Circuit Court Judge Philip DiMarzio in a breaking voice there had been a “total breakdown of communication” between her and Groat throughout the trial. She said Groat called her a liar and con artist.

Groat, angered by what he saw as a personal attack, said the timing of the maneuver prevented him from answering to Hammoud’s allegations.

“As a human being, I would like to address these attacks, but as a lawyer representing her, I can’t. I’m in a bind,” he said. Groat was Hammoud’s third lawyer in the case, which began in 1989.

After warning Hammoud that a new attorney coming into the case would be at a disadvantage, DiMarzio appointed Robert Carlson as her new public defender.

The trial will continue Dec. 6 when a motion for a new trial and possibly sentencing will be considered.

When DiMarzio questioned some items on Hammoud’s sworn affidavit which she made to show she needed a public defender, she amended it by adding a car to the list.

Because of the late change in the affidavit, Assistant State’s Attorney Duke Harris said the state is considering perjury proceedings.

Hammoud faces up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine for each of her two forgery convictions. She was found guilty Aug. 23 of using falsified transcripts to get her job in the NIU Affirmative Action Office.

She began working as the assistant director of the Affirmative Action Office in January 1989 only to be fired in April for inconsistencies in her academic record.

Hammoud’s credentials stated that she completed two years of law school at the State University of New York. However, records show that she flunked out twice.

Also, she claimed to have earned a master’s degree from the University of Michigan in 1978 and a doctoral degree in 1983. In fact, she did not have a doctoral degree and her master’s degree was earned in 1971, not 1978.

Hammoud was arrested in spring of 1989 after a search of her Westmont apartment turned up authentic stationery, university stamps and seals and graphic equipment.