Summary
The Supreme Court of Ohio entered an interim default suspension against attorney James Christopher Zury after he failed to answer a formal disciplinary complaint. The order immediately prohibited him from practicing law and imposed related client-notification, continuing-education, reimbursement, and reinstatement requirements.
Topics
Practice areas
Questions Presented
- Whether the Supreme Court of Ohio should enter an interim default suspension after the Board of Professional Conduct certified that respondent failed to answer a formal disciplinary complaint and respondent filed no response.
- What conditions and restrictions should accompany the interim default suspension.
Holdings
- Upon the Board of Professional Conduct's certification of respondent's default and respondent's failure to respond, the court entered an interim default suspension pursuant to Gov.Bar R. V(14)(B)(1).
- During the interim default suspension, respondent must cease practicing law and comply with the specified restrictions, client-notification and property-transfer duties, continuing-legal-education requirements, reimbursement obligations, recordkeeping requirements, and conditions for reinstatement.
Key quotations
“Upon consideration thereof and pursuant to Gov.Bar R. V(14)(B)(1), it is ordered and decreed that an interim default suspension is immediately entered against James Christopher Zury, Attorney Registration No. 0065389, last known business address in Westerville, Ohio, and that the suspension is effective as of the date of this entry.” (1232, ¶ 2)
“It is further ordered that respondent immediately cease and desist from the practice of law in any form and that he is hereby forbidden to appear on behalf of another before any court, judge, commission, board, administrative agency, or other public authority.” (1233, ¶ 3)
Factual background
The Board of Professional Conduct filed a certification of default alleging that respondent James Christopher Zury failed to file an answer to a formal disciplinary complaint. Zury did not file a response to the certification. Based on the certification and nonresponse, the Supreme Court of Ohio entered an interim default suspension.
Procedural history
On March 2, 2015, the Board of Professional Conduct filed a certification of default alleging that James Christopher Zury failed to answer a formal complaint pending before the board. Zury did not respond. The Supreme Court of Ohio entered an interim default suspension and imposed related practice, notice, continuing-legal-education, reimbursement, and reinstatement requirements.