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Supreme Court suspends license of Cleveland attorney
2001-1205. Disciplinary Counsel v. Watson, 2002-Ohio-2222.
On Certified Report by the Board of Commissioners on Grievances and Discipline of the Supreme Court, No. 98-70.
Michael Troy Watson is suspended from the practice of law for one year.
Moyer, C.J., Douglas, F.E. Sweeney, Cook and Lundberg Stratton, JJ., concur.
Resnick and Pfeifer, JJ., dissent.
Opinion: http://www.sconet.state.oh.us/rod/newpdf/0/2002/2002-Ohio-2222.pdf
Voting 5-2, the Supreme Court today suspended for one year the law license of Michael Troy Watson of Cleveland.
The Board of Commissioners on Grievances and Discipline had recommended a six-month suspension after citing Watson for 10 violations of Ohio's code of professional conduct for attorneys. Watson came under fire in part for charging a client excessive fees and threatening her with criminal charges after her check twice was returned for insufficient funds. He also filed a civil lawsuit against her seeking $25,000 in damages.
The Supreme Court, in its per curiam opinion, wrote, "In view of the nature of [Watson's] conduct and his failure to accept responsibility for [it], we believe that a more severe sanction is appropriate. [He] is hereby suspended from the practice of law in Ohio for one year."
Contacts
Jonathan E. Coughlan, 614.461.7205, for the Office of Disciplinary Counsel.
Michael Troy Watson, 216.696.0066, pro se.
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