A Cautionary Tale For The Holiday Season

The Columbus [Ohio] Bar Association has filed a complaint alleging, among other things, misconduct by the respondent at the Logan County Bar Association’s annual Christmas/Holiday party. 

The respondent was the subject of a bar discipline proceeding that had been initiated by a referral from  a judge. Those charges involve alleged solicitation for employment to an incarcerated murder defendant.

The bar hearing based on the complaint was two days away.

The respondent allegedly arrived intoxicated and continued  to drink.

The judge received a “mocking award for an embarrassing incident in which he had been involved.”

The respondent “loudly, repeatedly and rudely” made the following observations about the awardee:

“a fucking piece of shit”

“asshole” 

“motherfucker”

The complaint further alleges seven other alcohol-related incidents over the past nine years where respondent “improperly engaged law enforcement resources to punish or embarrass others.”

One of the alleged incidents involves conduct at a bar association trivia night where respondent loudly discussed a client matter. 

There is one count of client neglect and non-cooperation with the Bar. 

Some of the allegations test the limits to which professional discipline is appropriate for private drunken behavior. See in particular incident #6. 

Link to the complaint here.

Our post on the first case – argued before the Ohio Supreme Court – is linked here. (Mike Frisch)