After Over 40 Years Of Practice, First Ethics Sanction Is Permanent Disbarment

The Ohio Supreme Court has ordered the permanent disbarment of an attorney admitted in 1971.

The court concluded that the sanction was appropriate even though the attorney had no instances of prior discipline:

…because he accepted thousands of dollars from two affected clients, failed to pursue their claims for postconviction relief as they sat in prison for more than seven years, and deceived them by representing that he was working to secure the reductions of their criminal sentences.

The attorney, who did not cooperate in the disciplinary process, also was ordered to make restitution to the clients. (Mike Frisch)