Medina County Bar Association v. Heck

Summary

The Supreme Court of Ohio adopted a consent-to-discipline agreement involving an attorney who missed a filing deadline, failed to inform a client that she lacked malpractice insurance, and failed to deposit client funds in an interest-bearing trust account. The court imposed a one-year suspension, stayed in its entirety on conditions that the attorney enter an Ohio Lawyers Assistance Program contract, comply with its recommendations, and commit no further misconduct.

Holdings

1. Heck violated Prof.Cond.R. 1.3, 1.4(c), and 1.15 by failing to act with reasonable diligence, failing to inform a client that she lacked professional-liability insurance, and failing to properly preserve client funds.
2. A one-year suspension from the practice of law, with the entire suspension stayed on specified conditions, was the appropriate sanction.

Questions Presented

1. Whether Heck violated Prof.Cond.R. 1.3, 1.4(c), and 1.15.
2. Whether the parties' consent-to-discipline agreement should be adopted.
3. What sanction was appropriate for Heck's misconduct.

Disposition

other