Case Title: Toledo Bar Assn. v. Joelson

Citation: 2007-Ohio-4272

Docket Number: 20070636

State: ohio

Court: Ohio Supreme Court

Date: 2007-08-29T00:00:00Z

Document:
[Cite as Toledo Bar Assn. v. Joelson, 114 Ohio St.3d 425, 2007-Ohio-4272.] 
 
 
TOLEDO BAR ASSOCIATION v. JOELSON. 
[Cite as Toledo Bar Assn. v. Joelson, 114 Ohio St.3d 425, 2007-Ohio-4272.] 
Unauthorized practice of law — Preparing legal documents for others and 
appearing on behalf of others in court of law — Conduct enjoined. 
(No. 2007-0636 – Submitted May 23, 2007— Decided August 29, 2007.) 
ON FINAL REPORT by the Board on the Unauthorized Practice of Law of the 
Supreme Court, No. UPL 06-09. 
__________________ 
Per Curiam. 
{¶ 1} Relator, the Toledo Bar Association, charged that respondent, 
Harlan M. Joelson of Holland, Ohio, engaged in the unauthorized practice of law 
by representing Team Sports, Inc., in four lawsuits filed in the Toledo Municipal 
Court, General Division.  The Board on the Unauthorized Practice of Law has 
recommended that we enjoin respondent from practicing law in Ohio without a 
valid license.  On review, we find that respondent engaged in the unauthorized 
practice of law and agree that an injunction is appropriate. 
{¶ 2} Respondent has not been admitted to the practice of law in Ohio.  
According to the parties’ stipulations and waiver of notice and hearing, however, 
respondent prepared, signed, and filed in the municipal court in March 2006 a 
document purporting to be a complaint on behalf of Team Sports, Inc.  In the 
document, respondent claimed that two customers owed the company more than 
$6,000 for sporting goods and services.  Later that month, respondent also filed a 
letter asking the municipal court clerk to amend his initial pleading by adding four 
additional customers as defendants.  In May 2006, respondent again wrote to the 
municipal court clerk and asked her to “dismiss the action in full and with 
prejudice.” 
SUPREME COURT OF OHIO 
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{¶ 3} The parties also stipulated that respondent attempted to bring three 
other legal claims in the municipal court on behalf of Team Sports, Inc.  
Respondent prepared, signed, and filed in March 2006 a second document 
purporting to be a complaint against two defendants for more than $10,000 
allegedly owed for sporting goods and services.  Respondent prepared, signed, 
and filed in April 2006 a third document purporting to be a complaint against 
three defendants for more than $3,000 allegedly owed for apparel, promotional 
products, and services.  In that case, respondent attempted to defend his 
unlicensed legal practice in response to a motion for dismissal and a request for 
attorney fees and expenses.  Finally, in the fourth case, respondent prepared, 
signed, and filed in August 2006 a document purporting to be a complaint against 
two additional defendants for more than $7,000 allegedly owed for sporting goods 
and services. 
{¶ 4} The board found, based upon the stipulations and respondent’s 
admissions, that respondent had engaged in the unauthorized practice of law by 
acting on behalf of Team Sports, Inc.  We adopt the board’s findings of fact and 
conclusions of law.  We also adopt the recommendation for an injunction. 
{¶ 5} Section 2(B)(1)(g), Article IV, Ohio Constitution, confers on this 
court original jurisdiction regarding admission to the practice of law, the 
discipline of persons so admitted, and all other matters relating to the practice of 
law.  A person who is not admitted to the practice of law pursuant to the Supreme 
Court Rules for the Government of the Bar engages in the unauthorized practice 
of law when he or she provides legal services to another in this state.  Gov.Bar R. 
VII(2)(A); see also R.C. 4705.01. 
{¶ 6} The practice of law is not limited to appearances in court.  It also 
embraces the preparation of papers that are to be filed in court on another’s behalf 
and that are otherwise incident to a lawsuit.  Cleveland Bar Assn. v. Misch (1998), 
82 Ohio St.3d 256, 259, 695 N.E.2d 244; Land Title Abstract & Trust Co. v. 
January Term, 2007 
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Dworken (1934), 129 Ohio St. 23, 28, 1 O.O. 313, 193 N.E. 650.  And with 
limited exception, see Cleveland Bar Assn. v. Pearlman, 106 Ohio St.3d 136, 
2005-Ohio-4107, 832 N.E.2d 1193 (allowing a nonlawyer to prepare and file a 
complaint in small-claims court on behalf of a limited-liability company of which 
the nonlawyer and his wife were the only members, provided the nonlawyer did 
not engage in argument or other acts of advocacy), the unauthorized practice 
occurs when a layperson renders legal services for another person or corporate 
entity by attempting to manage legal actions and proceedings before courts of 
law.  Richland Cty. Bar Assn. v. Clapp (1998), 84 Ohio St.3d 276, 703 N.E.2d 
771; Union Sav. Assn. v. Home Owners Aid, Inc. (1970), 23 Ohio St.2d 60, 52 
O.O.2d 329, 262 N.E.2d 558.  By preparing legal papers to be filed in the Toledo 
Municipal Court on behalf of Team Sports, Inc., respondent engaged in the 
unauthorized practice of law. 
{¶ 7} Relator did not request imposition of the civil penalty permitted 
under Gov.Bar R. VII(8)(B).  See UPL Reg. 400(F)(1).  We see no reason to 
impose this sanction inasmuch as respondent has cooperated in the board 
proceedings, no evidence shows that he caused significant harm on the occasions 
that he engaged in the unauthorized practice of law, and he has ceased such 
practice.  See UPL Reg. 400(E) and (F)(4)(a) through (d).  Accord Cleveland Bar 
Assn. v. Para-Legals, Inc., 106 Ohio St.3d 455, 2005-Ohio-5519, 835 N.E.2d 
1240. 
{¶ 8} We therefore enjoin respondent from filing claims on behalf of 
Team Sports, Inc., and from all other acts constituting the unlicensed practice of 
law in Ohio. 
Judgment accordingly. 
 
MOYER, C.J., PFEIFER, LUNDBERG STRATTON, O’CONNOR, O’DONNELL, 
LANZINGER and CUPP, JJ., concur. 
__________________ 
SUPREME COURT OF OHIO 
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Jonathan B. Cherry, Bar Counsel, and Gregory B. Denny, for relator. 
 
Harlan M. Joelson, pro se. 
______________________