Case Title: Columbus Bar Assn. v. Magana

Citation: 2002-Ohio-888

Docket Number: 20011180

State: ohio

Court: Ohio Supreme Court

Date: 2002-03-06T00:00:00Z

Document:
[Cite as Columbus Bar Assn. v. Magana, 94 Ohio St.3d 327, 2002-Ohio-888.] 
 
 
COLUMBUS BAR ASSOCIATION v. MAGANA. 
[Cite as Columbus Bar Assn. v. Magana (2002), 94 Ohio St.3d 327.] 
Attorneys at law — Misconduct — Indefinite suspension with no credit for time 
served under prior suspensions — Continuing to practice law while 
suspended. 
(No. 01-1180 — Submitted October 30, 2001 — Decided February 20, 2002.) 
ON CERTIFIED REPORT by the Board of Commissioners on Grievances and 
Discipline of the Supreme Court, No. 00-02. 
 
Per Curiam.  On May 1, 1998, respondent, Gualberto Magana of 
Columbus, Ohio, Attorney Registration No. 0030703, was sentenced after 
pleading guilty in the United States District Court to a felony offense of illegally 
acquiring and possessing United States Department of Agriculture food stamps.  
He was fined, put on probation, required to make restitution, and directed to 
perform two hundred hours of community service.  On June 18, 1998, based upon 
this conviction, we suspended respondent from the practice of law for an interim 
period.  In re Magana (1998), 82 Ohio St.3d 1446, 695 N.E.2d 268.  Later, on 
February 23, 2000, we indefinitely suspended respondent from the practice of 
law.  Columbus Bar Assn. v. Magana (2000), 88 Ohio St.3d 150, 724 N.E.2d 398. 
 
On August 4, 2000, relator, Columbus Bar Association, filed a three-count 
amended complaint charging that respondent violated the Code of Professional 
Responsibility by his actions during the period that he was suspended from the 
practice of law.  Respondent answered, and the matter was referred to a panel of 
the Board of Commissioners on Grievances and Discipline of the Supreme Court 
(“board”). 
 
Based upon evidence at a hearing, the panel found that although 
respondent was suspended from the practice of law on June 18, 1998, he sent a 
SUPREME COURT OF OHIO 
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letter on March 15, 2000, to an insurance claims representative discussing the 
claims of a client, Robert Martin, on letterhead that bore the heading, “Bert 
Magana Co., L.P.A.”  The panel concluded that this conduct of respondent 
violated DR 1-102(A)(1) (a lawyer shall not violate a Disciplinary Rule), 1-
102(A)(4) (a lawyer shall not engage in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, 
deceit, or misrepresentation), 1-102(A)(5) (a lawyer shall not engage in conduct 
prejudicial to the administration of justice), and 3-101(B) (a lawyer shall not 
practice law in a jurisdiction where doing so is in violation of the regulations of 
that jurisdiction).  The panel dismissed the other two counts of the complaint as 
not having been proved by clear and convincing evidence. 
 
The panel noted that the normal sanction, absent mitigation, for continuing 
to practice law while suspended is disbarment.  However, the panel noted it had 
not found a pattern of misconduct by respondent, multiple offenses, a failure to 
cooperate in the disciplinary process, a refusal to acknowledge the wrongful 
nature of his conduct, or harm to vulnerable clients.  Hence, the panel 
recommended that respondent be indefinitely suspended from the practice of law 
in Ohio with no credit for time served under prior suspensions.  The board 
adopted the findings, conclusions, and recommendation of the panel. 
 
On review of the record, we adopt the findings, conclusions, and 
recommendation of the board.  Respondent is hereby indefinitely suspended from 
the practice of law in Ohio with no credit for any time served under prior 
suspensions.  Costs are taxed to respondent. 
Judgment accordingly. 
 
MOYER, C.J., DOUGLAS, RESNICK, F.E. SWEENEY, PFEIFER and LUNDBERG 
STRATTON, JJ., concur. 
 
COOK, J., dissents. 
__________________ 
January Term, 2002 
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COOK, J., dissenting.  Because respondent’s misconduct warrants 
disbarment, I respectfully dissent. 
__________________ 
 
Stephen S. Francis, Bruce A. Campbell and Patricia K. Block, for 
Columbus Bar Association. 
 
Gualberto Magana, pro se. 
__________________