Summary
The Supreme Court of Ohio entered an interim default suspension against Esmeralda Fleming after she failed to answer a formal disciplinary complaint. The order immediately prohibited her from practicing law and imposed continuing legal education, client-notification, 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 complaint.
Holdings
- Upon certification of default under Gov.Bar R. V(14)(A), and in the absence of a response, the court entered an interim default suspension against respondent effective immediately.
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 Esmeralda Fleming” (¶ 11)
Factual background
The Board of Professional Conduct certified that respondent Esmeralda Fleming failed to file an answer to a formal disciplinary complaint. Fleming did not file a response to the certification. Based on the certification, the Supreme Court of Ohio immediately suspended her from the practice of law and imposed related professional, client-notification, continuing-education, reimbursement, and reinstatement requirements.
Procedural history
The Board of Professional Conduct filed a certification of default alleging that Esmeralda Fleming failed to answer a formal complaint pending before the board. Fleming did not respond. The Supreme Court of Ohio entered an interim default suspension pursuant to Gov.Bar R. V(14)(B)(1).