Disciplinary Counsel v. Wickerham

Full title: Disciplinary Counsel v. Wickerham

Court: Supreme Court of Ohio

Date published: Apr 29, 2011

946 N.E.2d 229 (Ohio 2011)

946 N.E.2d 229

2011 Ohio 2052

Opinion

No. 2011-0551.

April 29, 2011.

Disciplinary Cases.

On April 5, 2011, and pursuant to Gov.Bar R. V(5a)(A)(l)(b), relator, Disciplinary Counsel, filed with this court a motion for interim remedial suspension pursuant to Gov.Bar R. V(5a), alleging that respondent, Michelle Wickerham, Attorney Registration No. 0074984, last known business address in West Union, Ohio, has engaged in conduct that violates the Ohio Rules of Professional Conduct and that she poses a substantial threat of serious harm to the public. Respondent did not file a response.

Upon consideration thereof and pursuant to Gov.Bar R. V(5a)(B), it is ordered and decreed that an interim remedial suspension is immediately entered against respondent and that the suspension be effective as of the date of this entry, pending final disposition of disciplinary proceedings predicated on the conduct threatening the serious harm.

It is further ordered that respondent immediately cease and desist from the practice of law in any form and is hereby forbidden to appear on behalf of another before any court, judge, commission, board, administrative agency, or other public authority.

It is further ordered that effective immediately, respondent is forbidden to counsel or advise or prepare legal instruments for others or in any manner perform legal services for others.

It is further ordered that respondent is hereby divested of each, any, and all of the rights, privileges, and prerogatives customarily accorded to a member in good standing of the legal profession of Ohio.

It is further ordered that before entering into an employment, contractual, or consulting relationship with any attorney or law firm, respondent shall verify that the attorney or law firm has complied with the registration requirements of Gov.Bar R. V(8)(G)(3). If employed pursuant to Gov.Bar R. V(8)(G), respondent shall refrain from direct client contact except as provided in Gov.Bar R. V(8)(G)(1) and from receiving, disbursing, or otherwise handling any client trust funds or property.

It is further ordered that pursuant to Gov.Bar R. X(3)(G), respondent shall complete one credit hour of continuing legal education for each month or portion of a month of the suspension. As part of the total credit hours of continuing legal education required by Gov.Bar R. X(3)(G), respondent shall complete one credit hour of instruction related to professional conduct required by Gov.Bar R. X(3)(A)(1) for each six months or portion of six months of the suspension.

It is further ordered that respondent shall not be reinstated to the practice of law in Ohio until (1) respondent complies with the requirements for reinstatement set forth in the Supreme Court Rules for the Government of the Bar of Ohio, (2) respondent complies with this and all other orders issued by this court, (3) respondent complies with the Supreme Court Rules for the Government of the Bar of Ohio, and (4) this court orders respondent reinstated.

It is further ordered, sua sponte, by the court that within 90 days of the date of this order, respondent shall reimburse any amounts that have been awarded by the Clients' Security Fund pursuant to Gov.Bar R. VIII(7)(F). It is further ordered, sua sponte, by the court that if, after the date of this order, the Clients' Security Fund awards any amount against respondent pursuant to Gov.Bar R. VIII(7)(F), respondent shall reimburse that amount to the Clients' Security Fund within 90 days of the notice of such award.

It is further ordered that on or before 30 days from the date of this order, respondent shall:

1. Notify all clients being represented in pending matters and any co-counsel of respondent's suspension and consequent disqualification to act as an attorney after the effective date of this order and, in the absence of co-counsel, also notify the clients to seek legal service elsewhere, calling attention to any urgency in seeking the substitution of another attorney in respondent's place;

2. Regardless of any fees or expenses due, deliver to all clients being represented in pending matters any papers or other property pertaining to the client, or notify the clients or co-counsel, if any, of a suitable time and place where the papers or other property may be obtained, calling attention to any urgency for obtaining such papers or other property;

3. Refund any part of any fees or expenses paid in advance that are unearned or not paid, and account for any trust money or property in his possession or control;

4. Notify opposing counsel in pending litigation or, in the absence of counsel, the adverse parties of his disqualification to act as an attorney after the effective date of this order, and file a notice of disqualification of respondent with the court or agency before which the litigation is pending for inclusion in the respective file or files;

5. Send all such notices required by this order by certified mail with a return address where communications may thereafter be directed to respondent;

6. File with the Clerk of this court and the Disciplinary Counsel of the Supreme Court an affidavit showing compliance with this order, showing proof of service of notices required herein, and setting forth the address where the affiant may receive communications; and

7. Retain and maintain a record of the various steps taken by respondent pursuant to this order.

It is further ordered that respondent shall keep the Clerk and the Disciplinary Counsel advised of any change of address where respondent may receive communications.

It is further ordered, sua sponte, that all documents filed with this court in this case shall meet the filing requirements set forth in the Rules of Practice of the Supreme Court of Ohio, including requirements as to form, number, and timeliness of filings. All case documents are subject to Rules 44 through 47 of the Rules of Superintendence for the Courts of Ohio, which govern access to court records.

It is further ordered, sua sponte, that service shall be deemed made on respondent by sending this order and all other orders in this case by certified mail to the most recent address respondent has given to the Office of Attorney Services.

It is further ordered that the Clerk of this court issue certified copies of this order as provided for in Gov.Bar R. V(8)(D)(1), that publication be made as provided for in Gov.Bar R. V(8)(D)(2), and that respondent bear the costs of publication.

OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE RESULTS OF THE FEBRUARY 2011 OHIO BAR EXAMINATION

On February 22, 23, and 24, 2011, the Ohio Bar Examination was administered in Columbus. Today results of that examination are being released. Out of 397 applicants, 279 (69.77%) received passing scores; out of 226 first time applicants, 85.84% received passing scores. The names, cities and counties of the successful applicants appear on the attached list.

The oath of office will be administered to applicants who were successful on the examination and who have satisfied all of the Supreme Court's other requirements for admission. The oath will be administered during a special public session of the Supreme Court that will be held at The Ohio Theatre, 39 East State Street, in Columbus, on Monday, May 9, 2011, at 2:00 P.M.

Allen Ashland Ashtabula Butler Clark Clermont Columbiana Coshocton Cuyahoga Delaware Erie Fairfield Franklin Geauga Greene Hamilton Highland Hocking Lake Licking Lorain Lucas Mahoning Marion Medina Meigs Montgomery Morrow Pickaway Pike Portage Stark Summit Trumbull Warren Wayne Williams Wood Out of State

Maria Theresa Schrautemyer Lima Casey Lauren Cerreta Ashland Bruce Kangwoo Yi Geneva Jessica Katharine Baranko Oxford Jessica Lynn Holton Somerville Lisa Marie Kemp West Chester Peter S. Kim West Chester Daniel Allen Perry Fairfield Louis Smith, III Hamilton Samantha Louise Berkhofer Springfield Joshua Richard Crousey Cincinnati Jessica Diane Faris Loveland Cadence Marie Moore Goshen Michael Patrick Davis East Liverpool Jeffrey Robert Jackson Coshocton Ahmed Abdullah Abonamah Cleveland Philip George Ammar Cleveland Heights Ashlee Elaine Ayers North Royalton Brandon Louis Azman Gates Mills John Paul Bacevice Lyndhurst Catherine Lynn Beck Cleveland Heights Terence Joseph Bizga Lakewood Edward Francis Borkowski, Jr. Cleveland Brian Mark Brochetti Parma Nicholas George Costaras Westlake Felix Maximilian Czernin Cleveland Anthony James Dimora Cleveland John Joseph Dowell Lakewood Ruxandra Irina Dragan Rocky River Ying Du University Heights Crystal Marie Faiken Lakewood Anne Clifford Foster Shaker Heights Gregory Donald Goga Middleburg Heights Joel David Gottesman Beachwood Sarah Elizabeth Greenlee Shaker Heights Michael Benjamin Gross Shaker Heights Carrie Ann Harris Parma Robert Scott Heasley University Heights Doajo David Hicks Shaker Heights Daniel Patrick Hinkel Westlake Mary Therese Hitch Lyndhurst Courtnev Elizabeth Iber Cleveland Heights David P-ter Irimies Independence Daniel Paul Jacobson Lakewood Adam Phillip Jason Cleveland Sergey Kats South Euclid Thomas Joseph Kilbane Rocky River Laura Elizabeth Kolat Beachwood Joseph John Lonardo Solon Jillian Rose Longo Parma Martin Jerome Mackowski, III Lakewood Marisela Joan Marquez Cleveland Heights Stephen Gerard McClure Cleveland Michael Owen McGinty Brecksville Michael Dominic Meuti Cleveland William Edward Mooney Brecksville John Edwin Moran Cleveland Andrew Michael Mulford Lakewood Thomas Edward Ruck Cleveland Justin Peter Rudin Middleburg Heights Amber Clare Ruic Lakewood Francis Charles Santoiemmo Cleveland Joseph Wallace Shininger Lakewood Paul Wallace Smith Solon Lauren Caitlin Tompkins Lakewood Timothy Robb Troup Lakewood Andrew William Trout Brook Park Stephanie Marie Villaire Shaker Heights Ivy Krystolynn Washington Cleveland Heights Jann Collette Washington Bay Village Carrie Tuttle Wells Shaker Heights Michael Anthony Zadd Highland Heights Andrew Richard Zellers Beachwood Bobby Lee Stinson Westerville Catherine Kimberly Wong Lewis Center John Michael Felter Sandusky Bryan James Kurilic Sandusky Ashley Elizabeth Adams Pickerington Dorian Keith Baum Lancaster Martha Jean Nenni Allen Dublin Brian Scott Ballinger Westerville Orlie Dina Benjamin Bexley Matthew Aaron Brandt Columbus Andrew Kristopher Brennan Columbus Erin Elizabeth Butcher-Lyden Columbus Rachel Buchanan Caldwell Columbus James David Campbell Columbus Stephanie Marie Chmiel Columbus Peter Alan Contreras Dublin Guylynn David Cook Columbus Michael Peter Cooke Columbus Alison Mattey DeGiorgio Columbus Michael Joseph Ensminger Dublin Yousef Mazen Faroniya Columbus Robert Friedman Columbus Richard Burke Furnish Columbus Christina Lynn George Blacklick Kathryn Claire Haertel Columbus Sharon Louise Hanrahan Columbus Lauren Elizabeth Hanyak Columbus Kurt Van Hassink Gahanna Bradley G. Hayes Grove City Guillermo Hernandez Columbus Joshua Scott Huber Hilliard Kara Dunmyer Keating Columbus Jeffrey Thomas Kluesener Columbus Elliot John Kolkovich Westerville Laura Renee Lyons Westerville Mehek Manawalia Columbus David Max Marcus Columbus Ashleigh Elizabeth Monroe Westerville Douglas Harold Nobles Columbus Gregory Mark O'Molesky Columbus Ositadimma Venantius Onyia Canal Winchester Luke Daniel Overmeyer Groveport Christopher Allen Oyer Columbus Jong Hyun Park Columbus Donn Scott Parsons Dublin David Anthony Perry Columbus Danielle Nichole Polak Columbus Jonathan James Schlegel Columbus Dustin Allen Schock Columbus Reginald Lewis Staples, Jr. Columbus William Jeffrey Stevens Columbus Whitney Patrice Tims Grove City Jessica Marshall Verhotz Columbus Danielle Alaina Walker Blacklick Michael Patrick Walton Hilliard Kori Elizabeth Whisenant Columbus Stephen Maurice White Columbus Khadija Wadee'Ah Williams Columbus Peter Gannon Williams Upper Arlington David Michael Wilson Worthington James Anthony Georgian Chagrin Falls Lesley Anne Walter Chagrin Falls Corey Joseph Artim Dayton Brian Allen Kruse Beavercreek Kevin Leigh Newman Fairborn Jason Martin Williams Beavercreek Benjamin Daniel Alexander Cincinnati Stephen John Ball Cincinnati Alyson Steele Beridon Cincinnati Rahshann Kenneth Blackwell Cincinnati Alicia Ann Bond Cincinnati Aja Mary Brooks Cincinnati Lindsay Noelle Chambers Cincinnati Candace Julia Crear Cincinnati Keith Garrett DeMaggio Cincinnati Matthew Charles DiMuzio Cincinnati Robert C. 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ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIONS

1. Amendments to Traffic Rules 11, 13, and 14 have been adopted, effective July 1, 2011.

The final version of the amendments has been published in the May 2, 2011 Ohio Official Reports advance sheet.

O'CONNOR, C.J., and PFEIFER, LUNDBERG STRATTON, O'DONNELL, LANZINGER, CUPP, and MCGEE BROWN, JJ., concurred in adopting the amendments.

2. Proposed Rule 10.06 of the Rules of Superintendence for the Courts of Ohio (inter-court communication in domestic violence and related cases) has been published for public comment in the May 2, 2011 Ohio Official Reports advance sheet.

O'CONNOR, C.J., and PFEIFER, LUNDBERG STRATTON, O'DONNELL, LANZINGER, CUPP, and McGEE BROWN, JJ., concurred in publishing the proposed rule amendment for public comment.