Disciplinary Counsel v. Collins

Summary

The Supreme Court of Ohio held that attorney Cedric Preston Collins violated Prof.Cond.R. 8.4(c) by submitting inaccurate and undocumented fee applications for court-appointed legal services. The court imposed a two-year suspension from the practice of law, stayed in its entirety on the condition that Collins commit no further misconduct.

Holdings

1. Collins violated Prof.Cond.R. 8.4(c) by submitting inaccurate and undocumented certified fee applications, and his conduct constituted misrepresentation rather than intentional dishonesty, deceit, or fraud.
2. A two-year suspension from the practice of law, stayed in its entirety on the condition that Collins commit no further misconduct, is the appropriate sanction.

Questions Presented

1. Whether Collins's submission of inaccurate and undocumented fee applications constituted misrepresentation in violation of Prof.Cond.R. 8.4(c).
2. What sanction was appropriate for Collins's misconduct in light of the aggravating and mitigating factors and comparable attorney-discipline cases.

Disposition

other