Disciplinary Counsel v. Cummings

2016-Ohio-7294 (Ohio 2016) · Supreme Court of Ohio · October 13, 2016 · No. 2016-1340

Summary

The Supreme Court of Ohio imposed reciprocal discipline on Lisa Mechelle Cummings after the Supreme Court of Georgia disbarred her. The court indefinitely suspended Cummings from practicing law in Ohio and conditioned reinstatement on, among other requirements, her reinstatement in Georgia and compliance with Ohio reinstatement rules.

Court
Supreme Court of Ohio
Writing for the Court
Chief Justice O'Connor; Justice Pfeifer; Justice O'Donnell; Justice Lanzinger; Justice Kennedy; Justice French; Justice O'Neill
Jurisdiction
Ohio
Decision date
October 13, 2016
Docket number
2016-1340
Procedural posture
Reciprocal-discipline proceeding initiated upon a certified order of the Supreme Court of Georgia disbarring respondent. The Supreme Court of Ohio ordered respondent to show cause why identical or comparable discipline should not be imposed; no objections were filed.
Precedential value
published
Parties
Disciplinary Counsel v. Lisa Mechelle Cummings
Disposition
other

Topics

appellate procedure

Practice areas

legal ethics and professional responsibilityattorney disciplinereciprocal discipline

Questions Presented

  1. Whether reciprocal discipline should be imposed in Ohio based on the Supreme Court of Georgia's disbarment order.
  2. What discipline and reinstatement conditions should apply in Ohio under Gov.Bar R. V(20)(B).

Holdings

  1. Under Gov.Bar R. V(20)(B), the respondent should be indefinitely suspended from the practice of law in Ohio, and she may not be reinstated in Ohio until she is reinstated in Georgia and satisfies the additional Ohio reinstatement requirements.
  2. During the indefinite suspension, respondent must immediately cease practicing law and comply with specified restrictions, continuing-legal-education requirements, client-notification and property-delivery obligations, reimbursement obligations, registration-card surrender, and reporting requirements.

Factual background

The Supreme Court of Georgia entered an order disbarring Lisa Mechelle Cummings from the practice of law. Disciplinary counsel submitted a certified copy of that order to the Supreme Court of Ohio, and Cummings did not object when ordered to show cause why comparable discipline should not be imposed in Ohio.

Procedural history

The Supreme Court of Georgia disbarred Lisa Mechelle Cummings in an order entered October 1, 2012. Disciplinary counsel filed a certified copy of that order with the Supreme Court of Ohio under the reciprocal-discipline provisions of Gov.Bar R. V(20). After respondent failed to object to the Ohio show-cause order, the Ohio Supreme Court imposed an indefinite suspension and specified conditions governing any future reinstatement and respondent's conduct during the suspension.

Court Document

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