Toledo Bar Assn. v. Farah

Summary

The Supreme Court of Ohio indefinitely suspended Asad Sadallah Farah from practicing law for neglecting a client matter and failing to cooperate with a disciplinary investigation. The court ordered the suspension to run consecutively to a previously imposed one-year suspension and taxed costs to Farah.

Holdings

1. Farah violated Prof.Cond. R. 1.1, 1.3, 1.4(a)(3), and 1.4(a)(4) by failing to competently and diligently handle Nelson's matter, failing to file the required judgment entry, and failing to keep Nelson reasonably informed or respond to her requests for information.
2. Farah violated Prof.Cond. R. 8.1(b) and Gov.Bar R. V(4)(G) by failing to respond to demands for information during the disciplinary investigation and failing to cooperate with the investigation and proceeding.
3. An indefinite suspension from the practice of law in Ohio was appropriate, and it must run consecutively to Farah's previously imposed one-year suspension.

Questions Presented

1. Whether Farah committed professional misconduct by failing to competently and diligently handle Nelson's legal matter, keep her informed, and respond to reasonable requests for information.
2. Whether Farah violated his disciplinary obligations by knowingly failing to respond to a demand for information during the investigation and by failing to cooperate with the disciplinary investigation.
3. Whether an indefinite suspension, consecutive to Farah's previously imposed one-year suspension, was the appropriate sanction.

Disposition

other