Cuyahoga County Dream Job May Continue

The Ohio Supreme Court publicly reprimanded an attorney admitted in 2017 for

multiple ethical violations arising from his representation of a single client and his failure to cooperate in the ensuing disciplinary investigation. Schriver waived a probable-cause determination and entered stipulations of fact and misconduct.

Mitigation

Schriver testified that he has been diagnosed with several mental disorders. Although he did not attempt to establish those disorders as a mitigating factor, he did submit evidence that he had entered into a two-year mental-health contract with the Ohio Lawyers Assistance Program (“OLAP”) in July 2020. Shriver explained that he had fallen out of compliance with that contract for a time because he was concerned about regularly taking time off from work for treatment amidst rumors that his employer at the time, the Medina County Public Defender’s Office, might be closing. He reengaged with OLAP in March 2021 and was in compliance with his contract at the time of his disciplinary hearing. He testified that he now works in his “dream job” at the Cuyahoga County Public Defender’s Office, where he has a strong support system that was not available to him when he was in private practice and the misconduct at issue occurred. He also stated that he has no plans to return to private practice.

A dissent would imposed a stayed six-month suspension with OLAP obligation compliance. (Mike Frisch)