Meaningful Transparency

The Ohio Supreme Court continues with its public-friendly web page traditions with this announcement of ethics charges against seven attorneys.

The announcement in turn links to the charges against each attorney.

This case involves allegations agaist an attorney retained the defend a woman charged with participation in a marijuana growing operation. 

The key allegations relate to the fee. The client agreed to the attorney’s proposed terms but did not have the cash. She had a 22 acre parcel of farmland that she offered to sell to pay the fee.

The client alleges that she signed over the farmland with the expectation that the attorney would sell it, deduct his fee and remit the balance. Rather, he treated the farmland as his own.

In the meantime, he learned that the charges would be substantially reduced against his client if she cooperated against her (now ex)-boyfriend, which she did.

It is further alleged that the attorney made false represntations to secure dismissal of the client’s complaint. The Bar investigation was reopened  after the dismissal.

The attorney is charged with violation of the business transaction with client rule (Rule 1.8), false statements (Rule 8.1) and conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice (Rule 8.4).

Note that there are very few places where disciplinary charges (public documents in most places) are available online. Illinois and North Carolina may be the only exception. If disciplinary counsel know of other jurisdictions where these public documents are readily available (i.e. posted), please let me know.

This Court News link is a model of public-friendly information and takes the reader to a summary of a case up for oral argument  today

• The board that reviews the character and fitness of people who apply to be lawyers in the state recommends disapproval of the application of a man convicted in the late 1990s for sexual offenses involving minors. The man, who has attended law school in northern Kentucky and is in his 60s, maintains in In re Application of Tynes that he has fully disclosed the crimes, has taken responsibility for his actions, and hasn’t been charged with any other crimes.

The argument can be viewed in real time.

Kudos Ohio! (Mike Frisch )