Opinion
No. 93-2184
Submitted December 7, 1993 —
Decided February 23, 1994.
ON CERTIFIED REPORT by the Board of Commissioners on Grievances and Discipline of the Supreme Court, No. 91-43.
In a four-count complaint filed on December 9, 1991 and amended on July 2, 1992, relator, Mahoning County Bar Association, charged respondent, Edward L. Carson of Girard, Ohio, Attorney Registration No. 0002642, with misconduct, alleging in Counts I and III that he had violated DR 1-102(A)(1) (violating a Disciplinary Rule) and 6-101(A)(3) (neglecting a legal matter entrusted to him). In Count II, respondent was charged with violating former Gov.Bar R. V(5)(a), now V(4)(G), by failing to cooperate with the Mahoning County Bar Association Grievance Committee. In Count IV, respondent was charged with violating DR 1-102(A)(6) (engaging in conduct that adversely reflects on one's fitness to practice law).
In a complaint filed on October 21, 1992, relator, Trumbull County Bar Association, charged that respondent had violated DR 6-101(A)(3) (neglecting a legal matter entrusted to him), 7-101(A)(2) (failing to carry out a contract of employment entered into with a client for professional services), and 7-101(A)(3) (causing prejudice or damage to one's client during the course of the professional relationship). The Board of Commissioners on Grievances and Discipline of the Supreme Court ("board") consolidated the two complaints. Respondent filed answers to the complaints filed December 9, 1991 and October 21, 1992, which denied the allegations and any disciplinary infractions relating thereto.
Thereafter, a panel of the board held a hearing on the Mahoning County Bar Association's amended complaint on May 7, 1993. The evidence and stipulation before the panel indicated that in March 1991, Scott R. Manahan contacted respondent regarding a dissolution of marriage, and respondent explained the general procedure and further informed Manahan that it would cost approximately $500. Respondent subsequently explained the dissolution process to Manahan's wife. On June 10, 1991, Manahan and his wife met with respondent and executed a separation agreement. Manahan paid respondent $325 for his retainer, and respondent advised Manahan that he would file the dissolution petition within the next week. Over the following month, Manahan left messages with respondent's secretary and on his answering machine and sent him a letter to check on the status of the dissolution petition, but respondent did not answer. Respondent never filed the dissolution petition. By letter dated July 15, 1991, Manahan advised relator, Mahoning County Bar Association, of his grievance against respondent.
Manahan subsequently retained other counsel to obtain the dissolution, and in September 1991, respondent repaid Manahan the $325 retainer fee. In investigating Manahan's grievance for the Mahoning County Bar Association, attorney Gary L. Van Brocklin made numerous attempts to contact respondent, including letter and telephone messages, but respondent failed to respond or otherwise assist the investigation.
In late summer of 1991, attorney Emmor Snyder was contacted by one of the beneficiaries of the estate of decedent Mabel E. Ritchey, complaining about respondent, the estate attorney. After reviewing the probate court file, Snyder became aware that respondent had failed to file anything after the appointment of co-executors, and so informed the court. Following a hearing at which respondent was present, the probate court on October 8, 1991 removed respondent as counsel for the estate and replaced him with Snyder, and further denied any attorney fees to respondent. Respondent had already withdrawn $1,800 from the estate for attorney fees, but ultimately repaid the estate on January 20, 1992.
In mitigation, respondent presented evidence that he was suffering from depression and alcoholism. Respondent has been undergoing psychotherapy and has been prescribed certain drugs to control his depression. Respondent has attended Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and has also been involved in substance abuse counseling. Relator, Mahoning County Bar Association, recommended a public reprimand, and respondent agreed that sanction would be appropriate if the panel found that he had committed any misconduct.
On July 29, 1993, relator, Trumbull County Bar Association, and respondent entered into a stipulation of facts concerning the Trumbull County Bar Association's complaint, as follows. In September 1991, respondent represented Donald Stevens in a property-line dispute. Respondent failed to appear at a scheduled pretrial and failed to contact either his client or the adverse party's counsel about the missed pretrial. Respondent then failed to contact either his client or the adverse party's counsel when a motion for default judgment was filed. Stevens and his wife then negotiated their own settlement of the lawsuit. Relator recommended a public reprimand based upon the stipulated facts.
The panel found, as to Counts I (Manahan dissolution) and III (Ritchey estate) of the Mahoning County Bar Association's amended complaint and the only count (Stevens property-line dispute) of the Trumbull County Bar Association's complaint that respondent had violated DR 1-102(A)(1) and 6-101(A)(3) by neglecting legal matters entrusted to him. The panel further found that with regard to Count II of the Mahoning County Bar Association's amended complaint (bar investigation of Manahan grievance), respondent had violated Gov.Bar R. V(4)(G) by neglecting or refusing to assist in the investigation. The panel dismissed Count IV of the Mahoning County Bar Association's amended complaint. The panel recommended that respondent be publicly reprimanded. The board adopted the findings of fact, conclusions of law, and recommendation of the panel, and further recommended that costs be taxed to respondent.
Pfau, Pfau Pfau and Brian N. Ramm; and Richard W. Machuga, for relator Mahoning County Bar Association.
Wern, Kelligher Brutz and W. Chad Kelligher; Letson, Griffith, Woodall Lavelle Co., L.P.A., and Lynn B. Griffith III, for relator Trumbull County Bar Association.
Edward L. Carson, pro se.
We concur in the findings and recommendation of the board. Edward L. Carson is hereby publicly reprimanded. Costs taxed to respondent.
Judgment accordingly.
MOYER, C.J., A.W. SWEENEY, DOUGLAS, WRIGHT, RESNICK, F.E. SWEENEY and PFEIFER, JJ., concur.