Opinion
No. CLE-2007-30896.
June 16, 2008.
MISCELLANEOUS ORDERS ENTRY
This matter originated in this court on the filing of a report by the Commission on Continuing Legal Education (the "commission") pursuant to Gov.Bar R. X(6)(A)(1)(b) and (A)(2)(d). The commission recommended the imposition of sanctions against certain attorneys, including the above-named respondent, for failure to comply with the provisions of Gov.Bar R. X, Attorney Continuing Legal Education, for the 2005-2006 reporting period.
The commission's report recommended imposition of a monetary sanction against the respondent for noncompliance in the 2005-2006 reporting period. Furthermore, the commission's report recommended that the respondent be suspended from the practice of law pursuant to Gov.Bar R. X(5)(A)(4) for failure to pay a previous court-ordered sanction for noncompliance in a previous reporting period in addition to noncompliance in the 2005-2006 reporting period. On January 25, 2008, this court issued to the respondent an order to show cause why the commission's recommendation should not be adopted and an order so entered against the respondent. Respondent filed objections to the commission's recommendation, the commission filed an answer brief, and this cause was considered by the court. Upon consideration thereof,
It is ordered by the court that the recommendation of the commission is adopted and respondent, is immediately suspended from the practice of law pursuant to Gov.Bar R. X(6)(B)(3), and Gov.Bar R. X(5)(A)(4), until respondent is reinstated by order of this court pursuant to Gov.Bar R. X(7).
It is further ordered that, within 30 days of the date of this order, respondent shall pay to the Commission on Continuing Legal Education, by certified check or money order, a sanction fee which is hereby imposed in the total amount of $750.00.
It is further ordered that, payment of the sanction fee notwithstanding, respondent shall comply with the requirements imposed by Gov.Bar R. X for the 2005-2006 reporting period. See CLE Reg. 503.4.
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 respondent is hereby forbidden to counsel or advise or prepare legal documents for others or in any manner perform such services.
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 respondent surrender forthwith respondent's attorney registration card to the Clerk of this court on or before 30 days from the date of this order and that respondent's name be stricken from the roll of attorneys maintained by this court.
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 Gov.Bar R. X(7); (2) respondent complies with the Supreme Court Rules for the Government of the Bar of Ohio; (3) respondent complies with this and all other orders of the court; and (4) this court orders respondent reinstated.
It is further ordered that, within 30 days of 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 respondent, 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 the possession or control of respondent;
4. Notify opposing counsel in pending litigation or, in the absence of counsel, the adverse parties, of respondent's disqualification 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 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 of this court 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.
It is further ordered that service shall be 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 the Office of Attorney Services.
It is further ordered that, pursuant to Gov.Bar R. X(6)(H), the Clerk of this court send certified copies of this order to those persons or organizations named in Gov.Bar R. V(8)(D)(1), and that publication be made as required under Gov.Bar R. X(6)(H).
The Supreme Court of Ohio has issued orders imposing sanctions upon six attorneys and judges for noncompliance with the provisions of Gov.Bar R. X and Gov.Jud. R. IV. The text of the entry imposing the sanction is reproduced below. This is followed by a list of the attorneys and judges who were sanctioned. The list includes each attorney's or judge's Attorney Registration Number; the county and state of the attorney's or judge's employer, as last registered with the Attorney Registration Section; and the amount of the sanction fee imposed by the Supreme Court.
In re Report of the Commission : on Continuing Legal Education. : CLE-2007-[Registration #] : [Attorney Name], : ORDER (# [Registration Number]), : [Filed June 16, 2008] Respondent. : This matter originated in this court on the filing of a report by the Commission on Continuing Legal Education (the "commission") pursuant to Gov.Bar R. X(6)(A)(1)(b) and (2)(d). The commission recommended the imposition of sanctions against certain attorneys and judges, including the above-named respondent, for failure to comply with the applicable continuing legal education provisions of Gov.Bar R. X and Gov.Jud.R. IV for the 2005-2006 reporting period.The commission's report recommended imposition of a monetary sanction against the respondent for noncompliance in the 2005-2006 reporting period. Furthermore, the commission's report recommended that the respondent be suspended from the practice of law pursuant to Gov.Bar R. X(5)(A)(4) for violation of Gov.Bar R. X for the third consecutive reporting period, and for continuous and ongoing noncompliance with Gov.Bar R. X during the last three reporting periods. On January 25, 2008, this court issued to the respondent an order to show cause why the commission's recommendation should not be adopted and an order so entered against the respondent. Respondent filed objections to the commission's recommendation, the commission filed an answer brief, and this cause was considered by the court. Upon consideration thereof,
It is ordered by the court that the recommendation of the commission is adopted and respondent is immediately suspended from the practice of law pursuant to Gov.Bar R. X(6)(B)(3), and Gov.Bar R. X(5)(A)(4), until respondent is reinstated by order of this court pursuant to Gov.Bar R. X(7).
It is further ordered that, within 30 days of the date of this order, respondent shall pay to the Commission on Continuing Legal Education, by certified check or money order, a sanction fee which is hereby imposed in the total amount of $[sanction amount].
It is further ordered that, payment of the sanction fee notwithstanding, respondent shall comply with the requirements imposed by Gov.Bar R. X for the 2005-2006 reporting period. See CLE Reg. 503.4.
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 respondent is hereby forbidden to counsel or advise or prepare legal documents for others or in any manner perform such services.
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 respondent surrender forthwith respondent's attorney registration card to the Clerk of this court on or before 30 days from the date of this order, and that respondent's name be stricken from the roll of attorneys maintained by this court.
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 Gov.Bar R. X(7); (2) respondent complies with the Supreme Court Rules for the Government of the Bar of Ohio; (3) respondent complies with this and all other orders of the court; and (4) this court orders respondent reinstated.
It is further ordered that, within 30 days of 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 respondent, 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 the possession or control of respondent;
4. Notify opposing counsel in pending litigation or, in the absence of counsel, the adverse parties, of respondent's disqualification 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 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 of this court 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.
It is further ordered that service shall be 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 the Office of Attorney Services.
It is further ordered that, pursuant to Gov.Bar R. X(6)(H), the Clerk of this court send certified copies of this order to those persons or organizations named in Gov.Bar R. V(8)(D)(1), and that publication be made as required under Gov.Bar R. X(6)(H).Attorney Name Registration County State Amount Number
Joel Sidney Treuhaft 0033556 FL $750.00 Thomas Schmelzer 0032560 Cuyahoga OH $600.00 Richard Wright Rubenstein 0011032 Franklin OH $150.00 Jeffrey Charles Pettys 0061318 Franklin OH $430.00 Harry Johann Wittbrod 0066021 Summit OH $540.00 Douglas Stephen Tripp 0058362 OK $370.00