Summary
The Supreme Court of Ohio held that Jeanette Michele Robinson committed professional-conduct violations by overbilling for court-appointed legal services and making false statements. The court imposed a two-year suspension, with the second year stayed on conditions including restitution, compliance with criminal-case orders, and no further misconduct.
Topics
Practice areas
Questions Presented
- Whether Robinson violated the Rules of Professional Conduct by knowingly submitting fraudulent and excessive billing statements for court-appointed work.
- What professional-discipline sanction was appropriate in light of Robinson's misconduct, aggravating and mitigating factors, restitution, criminal conviction, and comparable disciplinary cases.
Holdings
- Robinson violated Prof.Cond.R. 1.5(a), 3.3(a)(1), 4.1(a), 8.4(b), 8.4(c), and 8.4(d) by overbilling for court-appointed work, making false statements to tribunals and third parties, engaging in dishonest and fraudulent conduct, and engaging in conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice.
- Robinson was suspended from the practice of law for two years, with no credit for her interim felony suspension, but the second year was stayed subject to compliance with the criminal-court orders, payment of an additional $50,000 in restitution, and no further misconduct.
Key quotations
“Accordingly, Jeanette Michele Robinson is suspended from the practice of law in Ohio for two years, with no credit for the time served under the interim felony suspension imposed on October 13, 2020, but with the second year stayed on the conditions that she (1) comply with all orders of the Lorain County Court of Common Pleas in case No. 20CR102843, (2) pay $50,000 in restitution to Lorain County in addition to the $29,319 in restitution ordered in her criminal case, and (3) engage in no further misconduct.” (¶ 18)
Factual background
From 2016 through 2019, Robinson knowingly overbilled the Ohio Public Defender's Office and Lorain County for court-appointed work. She submitted fraudulent billing statements that were approved by trial judges and certified by the county auditor, resulting in payment. She pleaded guilty to fifth-degree felony theft and was ordered to pay $29,319 in restitution; she also agreed to pay an additional $50,000 in the disciplinary proceeding.
Procedural history
The Lorain County Bar Association filed a disciplinary complaint alleging that Robinson overbilled for court-appointed legal work and violated six Rules of Professional Conduct. After a hearing, a panel of the Board of Professional Conduct found misconduct and recommended a two-year suspension with the second year stayed on conditions; the board adopted the panel's report, and no objections were filed. The Supreme Court of Ohio adopted the board's findings and recommended sanction.