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

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Case Summaries- 276respondent‘s misconduct did not involve the use of his law license, lies to a tribunal or harm to clients, itdid cause harm to approximately 3,000 victims and resulted in a restitution order of $3.7 million. Thecourt adopted the board‘s findings, conclusions, and recommended sanction and so ordered apermanent disbarment. Two justices dissented in favor of the sanction recommended by the panel, anindefinite suspension without credit for time served under the felony suspension.Rules Violated: DR 1-102(A)(4), 1-102(A)(6)Aggravation: (b), (c), (d), (h)Mitigation: (d)Prior Discipline: YES Procedure/ Process Issues: YES Criminal Conduct: YESPublic Official: NO Sanction: Disbarment
Roberts, Disciplinary Counsel v.117 Ohio St.3d 99, 2008-Ohio-505. Decided 2/14/2008.Case Summaries- 277Respondent improperly notarized signatures. Respondent was retained to represent an over-the- roadtruck driver who had been injured in a motor vehicle accident. He met with the man and his wife in theirhome in a remote area of Michigan. They entered into a contingent fee contract. He communicatedfrequently with them but never met face to face with them again. The couple was without healthinsurance and traveled several times a week to obtain medical services upon credit from a familypractitioner and a chiropractor 130 to 150 miles away. Respondent quickly negotiated a settlement withtwo insurance companies. He settled a claim with Geico Insurance for $100,000 and a claim withCincinnati Insurance Company for $47,500. As to a third insurance carrier, respondent sent a release tohis clients to allow him to obtain wage information for the third insurance carrier. The husband signedthe release, but the insurance company returned it because it was not notarized. Respondent learnedthat the couple had no money to buy gas to drive to the nearest town for the needed notarization.Respondent changed both the date of the release and the date of the husband‘s signature and thennotarized the signature. He later advised the client he had notarized the release. As to the Geico claim,respondent had the clients sign a limited power of attorney authorizing him to settle the claims andexpedite the settlement process. He sent the clients their share of the proceeds from the Geico settlementand a disbursement sheet to account for the rest. As to the other Cincinnati claim, he signed his clients‘names to the release of claims against the Cincinnati Insurance Company, notarized the signatures thatpurported to be his clients, and asked an assistant to sign the release as a witness. After the CincinnatiInsurance Company paid the settlement proceeds, respondent sent a check to the client for their share.The wife received the check and apparently endorsed it for her husband without his authority anddeposited into their joint checking account, and eventually withdrew the money without the husband‘sknowledge. The husband did not discover it until he call respondent several months later to ask whathappened to the money. Respondent acknowledged his mistakes. Panel and board found that his conductin dishonoring his notary jurat and signing his clients names without authority violated DR 1-102(A)(4)and (6). ―When a lawyer notarizes a signature knowing that it is forged, and expecially when the lawyercommits the forgery, and actual suspension is warranted.‖ Citation to Shaffer (2003). Failing to properlynotarize a document, although a violation of DR 1-102(A)(4) for which an actual suspension usuallyfollows, may warrant a lesser sanction depending on the presence of mitigating factors.‖ Citations toGottesman, (2007), Russell (2007). A public reprimand will issue if the lawyer does nothing improper inaddition to notarizing a signature affixed outside the lawyer‘s presence.‖ Dougherty (2005). ―When alawyer signs a document for another person under the mistaken belief that she or she has thisauthority, however, we have used a six-month suspension and stayed the suspension on conditions.Citation to Freedman (2006). In mitigation, he has no prior discipline, did not act out of self-interest,cooperated, and established his good character and reputation. BCGD Proc.Reg. 10(B)(2)(a), (b), (d),and (e). In aggravation, he committed more than one infraction. BCGD Proc.Reg 10(A)(1)(d) [sic10(B)(1)(d)]. He signed twice on behalf of others without authority, induced an assistant to falselywitness the signatures, and dishonor the notary jurat three times. But, he did accept responsibility for hismistakes. Because of his contrition, unblemished record, and good, albeit misguided, intentions, andactual suspension is not required. The court adopted the Board‘s findings of violations, but ordered asuspension for six months, stayed on condition of no further misconduct. One justice dissented infavor of a public reprimand.Rules Violated: DR 1-102(A)(4), 1-102(A)(6)Aggravation: (d)Mitigation: (a), (b), (d), (e)Prior Discipline: NO Procedure/ Process Issues: NO Criminal Conduct: NOPublic Official: NO Sanction: Six-month suspension, stayed
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The Supreme Court of OhioBoard of C
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Drain, Cuyahoga Cty. Bar Assn. v.12
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Horton, Disciplinary Counsel v.124
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Markovich, Akron Bar Assn. v.117 Oh
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Table of Cases- 9Ramos, Cleveland B
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Table of Cases- 11Stuard, Becker, B
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Case SummariesAllerding, Columbus B
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Case Summaries- 15Archer, Northwest
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Case Summaries- 17intermittently ov
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Bartels, Allen Cty. Bar Assn. v.124
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Blair, Disciplinary Counsel v.128 O
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Case Summaries- 23Bowling, Discipli
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Broschak, Disciplinary Counsel v.11
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Brown, Dayton Bar Assn. v.124 Ohio
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Brown, Allen Cty. Bar Assn. v.124 O
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Brueggeman, Disciplinary Counsel v.
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Bunstine, Disciplinary Counsel v.12
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Bursey, Disciplinary Counsel v.124
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Butler, Disciplinary Counsel v.128
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Campbell, Disciplinary Counsel v.12
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Cantrell, Disciplinary Counsel v.12
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Cantrell, Disciplinary Counsel v.13
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Case Summaries- 45abuse impede his
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Case Summaries- 47respondent‘s de
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Case Summaries- 49with a client if
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Case Summaries- 51not DR 1-102(A)(5
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Clovis, Columbus Bar Assn. v.125 Oh
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Corrigan, Geauga Cty. Bar Assn. v.1
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Cunningham, Butler Cty. Bar Assn. v
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Davis, Disciplinary Counsel v.121 O
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Dawson, Cleveland Metropolitan Bar
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DeLoach, Akron Bar Assn. v.130 Ohio
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Detweiler, Disciplinary Counsel v.1
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DiCato, Akron Bar Assn. v.130 Ohio
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DiMartino, Mahoning Cty. Bar Assn.
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Doellman, Disciplinary Counsel v.12
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Drain, Cuyahoga Cty. Bar Assn. v.12
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Ellis, Columbus Bar Assn. v.120 Ohi
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Emerson, Cincinnati Bar Assn. v.122
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Farah, Toledo Bar Assn. v.125 Ohio
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Farrell, Cincinnati Bar Assn. v.129
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Fink, Akron Bar Assn. v.131 Ohio St
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Folwell, Disciplinary Counsel v.129
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Freedman, Akron Bar Assn. v.128 Ohi
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Freeman, Disciplinary Counsel v.126
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Freeman, Disciplinary Counsel v.119
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Frost, Disciplinary Counsel v.122 O
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Case Summaries- 95his goal of gaini
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Gibson, Akron Bar Assn. v.128 Ohio
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Glaeser, Cuyahoga Cty. Bar Assn. v.
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Goldblatt, Disciplinary Counsel v.1
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Gottehrer, Cleveland Metro. Bar Ass
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Case Summaries- 105disgorgement of
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Grote, Cincinnati Bar Assn. v.127 O
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Hackett, Cincinnati Bar Assn. v.129
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Case Summaries- 111presented eviden
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Hanni, Mahoning Cty. Bar Assn. v.12
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Hauck, Cincinnati Bar Assn. v.129 O
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Heiland, Disciplinary Counsel v.116
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Heisler, Cincinnati Bar Assn. v.119
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Henry, Disciplinary Counsel v.127 O
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Hickman, Toledo Bar Assn. v.119 Ohi
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Hildebrand, Cleveland Metro. Bar As
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Holda, Akron Bar Assn. v.125 Ohio S
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Horan, Disciplinary Counsel v.123 O
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Hoskins, Disciplinary Counsel v.119
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Howard, Disciplinary Counsel v.123
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Hunter, Columbus Bar Assn. v.130 Oh
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Jackel, Ohio State Bar Assn. v.118
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Jackson, Disciplinary Counsel v.127
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Jaffe, Cleveland Metro Bar Assn. v.
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Johnson, Toledo Bar Assn. v.121 Ohi
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Johnson, Cuyahoga Cty. Bar Assn. v.
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Johnston, Disciplinary Counsel v.12
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Jones, Mahoning Cty. Bar Assn. v.12
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Kaplan, Cleveland Metro. Bar Assn.
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Kealy, Cleveland Metro. Bar Assn. v
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Kellogg-Martin, Disciplinary Counse
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Kelly, Disciplinary Counsel. v.121
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Case Summaries- 159other assets in
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Case Summaries- 161none of the mone
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Case Summaries- 163Although the uns
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Kubyn, Lake Cty. Bar Assn. v.121 Oh
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Landis, Disciplinary Counsel v.124
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Lapine, Disciplinary Counsel v.128
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Larkin, Columbus Bar Assn. v.128 Oh
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Case Summaries- 173Board‘s findin
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Lawson, Cincinnati Bar Assn. v.119
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Lawson, Cincinnati Bar Assn. v.130
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Lentes, Disciplinary Counsel v.120
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Lewis, Medina Cty. Bar Assn. v.121
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Case Summaries- 183and blame the wo
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Longino, Disciplinary Counsel v.128
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Lowden, Toledo Bar Assn. v.117 Ohio
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Case Summaries- 1898.4(h) by his ac
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Mamich, Disciplinary Counsel v.125
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Manning, Disciplinary Counsel v.119
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Marosan, Stark Cty. Bar Assn. v.119
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Martin, Toledo Bar Assn. v.131 Ohio
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Mason, Toledo Bar Assn. v.118 Ohio
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McAuliffe, Disciplinary Counsel v.1
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McCord, Disciplinary Counsel v.121
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McFaul, Cleveland Metro. Bar Assn.
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Case Summaries- 207withdrawal. Resp
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Case Summaries- 209that he is compe
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Meade, Disciplinary Counsel v.127 O
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Miller, Disciplinary Counsel v.126
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Minamyer, Butler Cty. Bar Assn. v.1
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Case Summaries- 217represent his cl
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Case Summaries- 219became effective
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Mitchell, Disciplinary Counsel v.12
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Mullaney, Brooking, and Moeves, Cin
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Page 233 and 234: Newman, Cincinnati Bar Assn. v.124
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Page 239 and 240: Case Summaries- 237Master Commissio
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Page 245 and 246: Case Summaries- 243conditions that
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Page 263 and 264: Case Summaries- 261disqualification
Page 265 and 266: Randall, Dayton Bar Assn. v.118 Ohi
Page 267 and 268: Case Summaries- 265history, no dish
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Page 271 and 272: Resnick, Ohio State Bar Assn. v.128
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Page 283 and 284: Rohrer, Disciplinary Counsel v.124
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Page 287 and 288: Rust, Toledo Bar Assn. v.124 Ohio S
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Page 297 and 298: Sayler, Cleveland Metro. Bar Assn.
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Page 301 and 302: Schram, Dayton Bar Assn. v.122 Ohio
Page 303 and 304: Scott, Toledo Bar Assn. v.129 Ohio
Page 305 and 306: Shaw, Disciplinary Counsel v.126 Oh
Page 307 and 308: Shea, Columbus Bar Assn. v.117 Ohio
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Taylor, Disciplinary Counsel v.120
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Theisler, Mahoning Cty. Bar Assn. v
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Thomas, Cleveland Metro. Bar Assn.
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Case Summaries- 333court entered an
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Trainor, Cincinnati Bar Assn. v.129
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Troxell, Columbus Bar Assn. v.129 O
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Troy, Lake Cty. Bar Assn. v.130 Ohi
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Case Summaries- 341professionals in
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Vivyan, Disciplinary Counsel v.125
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Case Summaries- 345offenses, there
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Walker, Disciplinary Counsel v.119
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Weisberg, Toledo Bar Assn. v.124 Oh
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Case Summaries- 351Chandlers to dis
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Williams, Disciplinary Counsel v.13
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Williamson, Butler Cty. Bar Assn. v
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Wineman, Disciplinary Counsel v.121
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Wittbrod, Akron Bar Assn. v.130 Ohi
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Yeager, Disciplinary Counsel v.123
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Zaffiro, Cleveland Metro. Bar Assn.
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Zigan, Disciplinary Counsel v.118 O
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Bennett (2/4/2010) (unlawfullystruc
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Clovis (5/5/2010) (as required by G
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on inactive status and while under
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suspension, and remanded to board t
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violations for attempt to dismiss a
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Wineman (5/6/2009)Wolanin (4/1/2009
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Willette (3/20/2008)DR 2-103(C) (re
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Patterson (12/2/2009)Ryan (8/27/200
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DR 7-102(A)(5) (knowingly making fa
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DR 9-102(B)(4) (failure to promptly
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Dearfield (10/19/2011)DeLoach (8/31
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McNerney (5/28/2009)(term suspensio
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Hoppel (6/8/2011)Hunter (11/15/2011
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Rule 1.5(a) (charging or collecting
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Gottehrer (3/17/2010)Gresley (12/22
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Marshall (2/12/2009)Martin (12/15/2
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Meade (12/22/2010)Medley (1/27/2011
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