|
|
Please note: Opinion summaries are prepared by the Office of Public Information for the general public and news media. Opinion summaries are not prepared for every opinion released by the Court, but only for those cases considered noteworthy or of great public interest. Opinion summaries are not to be considered as official headnotes or syllabi of Court opinions. The full text of this and other Court opinions from 1992 to the present are available online from the Reporter of Decisions: http://www.supremecourtofohio.gov/ROD/newpdf/. In the Full Text search box, enter the eight-digit case number at the top of this summary and click "Submit."
In separate disciplinary actions announced today, the Supreme Court of Ohio indefinitely suspended the licenses of attorneys Jay Alan Goldblatt of Cleveland and Steven L. LoDico of Canton, and suspended attorney Michael J. Hayes of Columbus for two years with the last six months of that term stayed on conditions.
2007-1961. Disciplinary Counsel v. Goldblatt, Slip Opinion No. 2008-Ohio-1961.
On Certified Report by the Board of Commissioners on Grievances and Discipline, No. 06-002. Jay Alan Goldblatt, Attorney Registration No. 0014263, is indefinitely suspended from the practice of law in Ohio.
Moyer, C.J., and Pfeifer, Lundberg Stratton, O'Connor, O'Donnell, Lanzinger, and Cupp, JJ., concur.
Opinion: http://www.supremecourtofohio.gov/rod/docs/pdf/0/2008/2008-Ohio-1961.pdf
(May 29, 2008) Cleveland attorney Jay Alan Goldblatt has been indefinitely suspended from practice for violations of state attorney discipline rules arising from his convictions on two felony charges for attempting to arrange a sexual encounter with an underage girl. Goldblatt has been under an interim suspension since January 2006, when the Supreme Court was notified of his convictions on felony counts of compelling prostitution and possession of criminal tools.
In today’s decision, the Court adopted findings by the Board of Commissioners on Grievances & Discipline that Goldblatt’s actions violated the state disciplinary rules that prohibit an attorney from engaging in illegal conduct involving moral turpitude and conduct that reflects adversely on an attorney’s fitness to practice law.
Contacts
Carol A. Costa, 614.461.0256, for
the Office of Disciplinary Counsel.
Laurence A. Turbow, 216.881.7939, for Jay Alan Goldblatt.
2007-2378. Disciplinary Counsel v. LoDico, Slip Opinion No. 2008-Ohio-2465.
On Certified Report by the Board of Commissioners on Grievances and Discipline, No. 06-016. Steven L. LoDico, Attorney Registration No. 0041715, is indefinitely suspended from the practice of law in Ohio.
Moyer, C.J., and Pfeifer, Lundberg Stratton, O'Connor, O'Donnell, Lanzinger, and Cupp, JJ., concur.
Opinion: http://www.supremecourtofohio.gov/rod/docs/pdf/0/2008/2008-Ohio-2465.pdf
(May 29, 2008) The Supreme Court of Ohio has indefinitely suspended the law license of Canton attorney Steven L. LoDico for disciplinary violations arising from his convictions on a felony count of carrying a concealed weapon and six misdemeanor counts of aggravated menacing.
The criminal charges resulted from an incident in which LoDico became involved in an altercation with several persons outside a Canton strip club and produced a .45-caliber handgun with a laser sight, which he proceeded to point at each of the other persons, one at a time.
The Court adopted the recommendation of the Board of Commissioners on Grievances & Discipline that LoDico, whose license has been suspended since September 2005 for prior disciplinary infractions, should be indefinitely suspended for engaging in illegal conduct involving moral turpitude and conduct that reflects adversely on his fitness to practice law.
Contacts
Jonathan A. Coughlan, 614.461.0256, for
the Office of Disciplinary Counsel.
A. James Tsangeos, 330.493.9901, for Steven L. LoDico.
2007-2381. Columbus Bar Assn. v. Hayes, Slip Opinion No. 2008-Ohio-2466.
On Certified Report by the Board of Commissioners on Grievances and Discipline, No. 07-020. Michael J. Hayes, Attorney Registration No. 0069111, is suspended from the practice of law in Ohio for two years, with six months stayed on conditions, and probation is imposed.
Moyer, C.J., and Pfeifer, Lundberg Stratton, O'Connor, O'Donnell, Lanzinger, and Cupp, JJ., concur.
Opinion: http://www.supremecourtofohio.gov/rod/docs/pdf/0/2008/2008-Ohio-2466.pdf
(May 29, 2008) Attorney Michael J. Hayes of Columbus has been suspended from practice for two years, with the final six months of that term stayed on conditions, for engaging in a pattern of misconduct in which he failed to make scheduled court appearances, file necessary pleadings and take other promised actions on behalf of multiple clients, and subsequently failed to refund unearned fee advances to those clients.
The Court adopted findings by the Board of Commissioners on Grievances & Discipline that on multiple occasions Hayes neglected entrusted legal matters resulting in significant harm to clients. One count involved a criminal defendant whose appeal of a kidnapping conviction and 10-year prison term was denied after Hayes failed to appear for a scheduled oral argument before the 10th District Court of Appeals. The court proceeded to hear and decide the case without oral argument on behalf of the defendant.
During disciplinary proceedings, Hayes, who voluntarily ceased practicing in December 2006 and is not currently registered with the Supreme Court, admitted that at the time of his charged violations he had become addicted to prescription drugs including Percocet, Vicodin and Suboxone, and also used crack cocaine. The Court agreed with the disciplinary board’s findings that Hayes’ acts and omissions included violations of multiple attorney discipline rules including those that prohibit neglect, conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice, failure to pursue the lawful objectives of a client and damaging a client in the course of a professional relationship.
The Court noted that since his violations Hayes has complied with a treatment program for his drug addictions and has also been in compliance with a recovery and rehabilitation contract with the Ohio Lawyers’ Assistance Program (OLAP). The Court imposed several conditions that Hayes must meet prior to being reinstated to practice after serving the suspension imposed today. Those conditions include certification by a mental health professional that he is able to resume the practice of law, continuing compliance with his OLAP recovery contract and full restitution of the fees and expenses he received from the clients who filed grievances against him.
Contacts
Bruce Campbell, 614.340.2053, for
the Columbus Bar Association.
Jeffery A. Berndt, 614.280.9300, for Michael J. Hayes.