The Ohio Supreme Court handed down the sanction against Kenneth Donchatz by a 4-3 vote, with the dissenting justices preferring a two-year suspension with six months stayed.
Donchatz, who once described himself as “The Ethics Monster,” formerly was an assistant disciplinary counsel with the court who pursued charges of professional misconduct against other lawyers.
The court majority said Donchatz forfeited his right to practice to law through “significant acts of dishonesty” and “false and contradictory statements” he made throughout his disciplinary proceedings.
One charge against Donchatz alleged he improperly obtained a $100,000 loan from a client in 2009 in a transaction that was not arms-length and only repaid $57,000. Donchatz told the justices that the rest was repaid with an antique desk, given to him by the same client, that was discovered by a certified appraiser to be worth more than $51,000 after it was refurbished. The statement left Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor incredulous.
He also was found to have filed court paperwork falsely claiming he fully repaid a $2,181 default judgment that a tree-trimming company won against him and filing a false statement. Donchatz also was discovered to have made an improper filing falsely claiming that a lawsuit had been settled.
The lawyer also was found to have misrepresented the statements of an assistant disciplinary counsel, and defaming her, while representing another lawyer accused of misconduct. The First Amendment does not protect lawyers from liability for making malicious statements against other lawyers in legal proceedings, the justices ruled.
The court found that Donchatz deliberately made false statements and disobeyed rules in four separate cases.
The Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, which handled the case due to the lawyer’s former association with the disciplinary counsel, argued that Donchatz should receive an indefinite suspension. The Board of Professional Conduct had recommended the two-year suspension with six months stayed.
Given his earlier service to the state, his 16 years of teaching at Ohio State University and his coaching of the Westerville North High School mock-trial team for 20 years, Donchatz argued he deserved a stayed suspension.
Justices Terrence O’Donnell, Patrick F. Fischer and R. Patrick DeWine joined O’Connor in indefinitely suspending Donchatz. Justices Sharon L. Kennedy, Judith L. French and William M. O’Neill formed the minority.
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Ohio Supreme Court yanks law license of ‘Ethics Monster’
This has me baffled. Lawyers who go after other lawyers in misconduct cases are often target themselves. Is this a good guy or not?
ReplyDeleteI think this decision is a example of how the courts should in fact work by the rule of law. I ask though what about all the past cases by this attorney? Will all cases be investigated because as proven he didn't abide by the law? Also, why is it so incredible hard for a plain citizen that brings complaint to see the same outcome for the same crimes? The only reason this happened is because one lawyer was against the other for one.
ReplyDeleteHe fabricates the law to suit his sick fancy, which is vested in his own personal gain. I wonder why the City is not held accountable for the financial train wreck that inevitably occurs as a result of allowing this alleged “specialist” to reek havoc with the hard earned dollars of rhe elderly. He has no financial skillset and is an inept idiot in basic economic matters. I would like to know what City official deemed him worthy to designate him “special master” and id like to know what oversight comittee is tracking the wake of financial destruction following him. I think a class action suit against the City is order. There is something unscrupulous and entirely unethical regarding this man. I don’t really care that he is awkwardly inept with regards to social skills or has the emotional intelligence of a toddler, That is a moot point as far as i am concerned.
ReplyDeleteHe fabricates the law to suit his sick fancy, which is vested in his own personal gain. I wonder why the City is not held accountable for the financial train wreck that inevitably occurs as a result of allowing this alleged “specialist” to reek havoc with the hard earned dollars of rhe elderly. He has no financial skillset and is an inept idiot in basic economic matters. I would like to know what City official deemed him worthy to designate him “special master” and id like to know what oversight comittee is tracking the wake of financial destruction following him. I think a class action suit against the City is order. I don’t think it’s necessary to come and on his awkward inapt social skills or lack there of or that he has the emotional intelligence of a toddler. I am primarily concerned that he lacks intelligence or skills in a very sensitive field to which he’s a credited with being an expert and is anything but.
ReplyDelete