disciplinary handbook: volume v - Supreme Court - State of Ohio

Case Summaries- 217
represent his clients with honesty and integrity. In mitigation, he has no prior discipline, submitted
character letters from colleagues, refunded money to both clients although the mitigating effect is
diminished by his delay in waiting just before the panel hearing to do so. BCGD Proc.Reg. 10(B)(2) (a),
(c), (e). He acted out of self-interest, committed multiple offenses, engaged in a pattern of misconduct,
and could not explain his misdeeds. BCGD Proc.Reg. 10(B)(1)(b), (c) and (d). Board recommended a
suspension for one year with six months stayed on conditions of no other ethical violations and full
accounting to the clients for fees and expenses and refunds of any funds still owed and probation for one
year upon reinstatement and establishment of an office accounting system to accurately track receipts and
disbursements of client funds. The court ordered a suspension for two years with the last year stayed on
conditions of no ethical violations and fully accounting and refunding any unverified fees and expenses
owed to the client with interest at the statutory rate for judgments and upon reinstatement probation for
one year and in addition to meeting requirements for Gov.Bar R. V(9), establish an office accounting
system to accurately track receipts and disbursement of clients‘ funds.
Rules Violated: DR 1-102(A)(4), 1-102(A)(5), 1-102(A)(6), 2-106(A), 7-101(A)(1), 7-101(A)(3), 9-
102(B)(1), 9-102(B)(3), 9-102(B)(4)
Aggravation: (b), (c), (d)
Mitigation: (a), (c), (e)
Prior Discipline: YES (x2) Procedure/ Process Issues: YES Criminal Conduct: NO
Public Official: NO Sanction: Two-year suspension, 12 months stayed