Disciplinary Counsel v. Hartsock

Summary

The Ohio Supreme Court indefinitely suspended Walter D. Hartsock from practicing law after his conviction for mail fraud conspiracy arising from kickback arrangements involving insider insurance settlement information. The court adopted findings that his conduct violated multiple provisions of the Code of Professional Responsibility and taxed costs to him.

Holdings

1. Hartsock's conduct violated DR 1-102(A)(3), DR 1-102(A)(4), DR 1-102(A)(5), and DR 1-102(A)(6), because it involved illegal conduct involving moral turpitude, dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation, conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice, and conduct adversely reflecting on his fitness to practice law.
2. The court indefinitely suspended Hartsock from the practice of law in Ohio and taxed costs to him.

Questions Presented

1. Whether Hartsock's conduct in providing insider insurance-settlement information in exchange for kickbacks violated the cited provisions of the Ohio Code of Professional Responsibility.
2. What sanction was appropriate for the established misconduct.

Disposition

other