Disciplinary Counsel v. Lapine

128 Ohio St. 3d 87, 2010-Ohio-6151 (Ohio 2010) · Supreme Court of Ohio · December 21, 2010 · No. 2010-1291

Summary

The Supreme Court of Ohio held that a five-year SEC suspension order, entered without an admission or finding of professional misconduct, was not a disciplinary order from another jurisdiction under Ohio's reciprocal-discipline rule. The court dismissed the disciplinary matter without imposing reciprocal discipline.

Holdings

  1. The SEC is not a jurisdiction for purposes of imposing reciprocal discipline under Gov.Bar R. V(11)(F) because it does not admit or supervise attorneys or specifically regulate the practice of law.
  2. The SEC suspension order was not a disciplinary order within the meaning of Gov.Bar R. V(11)(F)(1) because it did not result from a disciplinary proceeding and established no misconduct by admission or affirmative finding.

Questions Presented

  1. Whether the SEC is a jurisdiction within the meaning of Gov.Bar R. V(11)(F) for purposes of reciprocal attorney discipline.
  2. Whether the SEC suspension order was a disciplinary order in another jurisdiction within the meaning of Gov.Bar R. V(11)(F)(1).
  3. Whether reciprocal discipline should be imposed on Lapine in Ohio.

Disposition

dismissed

Cases Cited (9)

  • Disciplinary Counsel v. Rayve, 121 Ohio St.3d 1212, 2009-Ohio-844, 901 N.E.2d 1292(distinguished)
  • Disciplinary Counsel v. Knuth, 119 Ohio St.3d 1201, 2008-Ohio-3810, 891 N.E.2d 343(distinguished)
  • Disciplinary Counsel v. Colitz, 99 Ohio St.3d 1216, 2003-Ohio-3308, 790 N.E.2d 788(distinguished)
  • Florida Bar v. Tepps, 601 So. 2d 1174 (Fla. 1992)(followed)
  • Stanley v. Ligon, 374 Ark. 6, 285 S.W.3d 649 (2008)(followed by analogy)
  • Disciplinary Counsel v. Lapine, 126 Ohio St.3d 1588, 2010-Ohio-4639, 934 N.E.2d 358(procedural history)
  • In re Ruffalo, 390 U.S. 544, 550-551 (1968)(cited)
  • Konigsberg v. State Bar of California, 353 U.S. 252, 262 (1957)(cited)
  • People v. Bode, 119 P.3d 1098 (Colo. O.P.D.J. 2005)(cited)

Cited In (0)

No citing cases on record yet.

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