Document Review Overbilling Draws Proposed Suspension

A two-year suspension with the second year stayed on conditions has been proposed by the Ohio Board on Professional Responsibility for billing misconduct.

The attorney worked as an independent contractor for a Cleveland law firm. She worked offsite doing document review by accessing a secure web site to perform the work.

Over the period of 2012 to 2015, she overbilled a total of $87, 260. 

When confronted by the firm, the attorney initially attributed the problem to her being a “bad record keeper.”

She then acknowledged the misconduct and has made full restitution.

At the time, the attorney was on inactive status and the work was not performed as an attorney. 

The attorney entered into a contract with the Ohio Lawyers Assistance Program and must comply with conditions on reinstatement. (Mike Frisch)