Case Title: Dayton Bar Assn. v. Pankowski

Citation: 2002-Ohio-647

Docket Number: 20011561

State: ohio

Court: Ohio Supreme Court

Date: 2002-02-06T00:00:00Z

Document:
[Cite as Dayton Bar Assn. v. Pankowski, 94 Ohio St.3d 227, 2002-Ohio-647.] 
 
 
DAYTON BAR ASSOCIATION v. PANKOWSKI. 
[Cite as Dayton Bar Assn. v. Pankowski (2002), 94 Ohio St.3d 227.] 
Attorneys at law — Misconduct — Indefinite suspension — Engaging in conduct 
adversely reflecting on fitness to practice law — Neglect of an entrusted 
legal matter — Prejudicing or damaging client during course of 
professional relationship — Neglecting or refusing to assist or testify in 
a disciplinary hearing or investigation. 
(No. 01-1561 — Submitted October 16, 2001 — Decided February 6, 2002.) 
ON CERTIFIED REPORT by the Board of Commissioners on Grievances and 
Discipline of the Supreme Court, No. 00-55. 
__________________ 
 
Per Curiam.  On August 7, 2000, relator, Dayton Bar Association, filed an 
amended complaint charging that respondent, Marlena Pankowski of Centerville, 
Ohio, Attorney Registration No. 0041877, violated several provisions of the Code 
of Professional Responsibility while serving as a court-appointed fiduciary.  The 
complaint was served upon respondent through the Montgomery County Sheriff’s 
Office and later by certified mail.  Although respondent discussed the matter of 
the complaint with representatives of relator, respondent did not file an answer.  
Relator then filed a motion for a default judgment. 
 
The Board of Commissioners on Grievances and Discipline of the 
Supreme Court (“board”) referred relator’s motion for default to Master 
Commissioner Harry W. White for ruling.  Based upon the allegations of the 
amended complaint, the master commissioner found that during the period from 
February 1, 1994, when she was appointed guardian of the person and estate of 
Clara Imber, until December 3, 1997, when she was removed as guardian, 
respondent failed to take the appropriate steps to maintain Imber’s eligibility for 
SUPREME COURT OF OHIO 
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Medicaid benefits.  Respondent also failed to follow Imber’s directions to place 
$4,500 in a funeral trust, which would have rendered the fund an exempt asset 
under Medicaid accounting.  As a result of respondent’s conduct, the 
Montgomery County Probate Court found respondent negligent and liable for 
damages in the amount of $16,609.42. 
 
The master commissioner also found that respondent was appointed 
guardian of the person and estate of Treva R. Hersh in April 1991, and that she 
filed an inventory showing Hersh’s assets as $208,812.74 in September 1991.  
After Hersh died in February 1993, respondent was appointed administrator of her 
estate and filed an inventory showing $143,608.47 in assets with no explanation 
of the difference from the previous accounting.  Respondent failed to file an 
accounting for the estate or respond to four show-cause orders issued by the 
probate court.  In August 1996, respondent filed an Ohio estate tax return for the 
Hersh estate showing assets of $153,179.30. 
 
In June 1998, the court removed respondent as administrator and 
surcharged her $14,088.62 for five years of unnecessary bond premiums, a 
penalty for filing a late state tax return, and for unauthorized fees paid to her law 
firm. 
 
The master commissioner concluded that respondent’s conduct violated 
DR 1-102(A)(6) (a lawyer shall not engage in conduct adversely reflecting on the 
lawyer’s fitness to practice law), 6-101(A)(3) (a lawyer shall not neglect an 
entrusted legal matter), 7-101(A)(2) (a lawyer shall not fail to carry out a contract 
for professional employment), and 7-101(A)(3) (a lawyer shall not prejudice or 
damage his client), and Gov.Bar R. V(4)(G) (no attorney shall neglect or refuse to 
assist or testify in an investigation or hearing).  The master commissioner 
recommended that respondent be indefinitely suspended from the practice of law. 
 
The board adopted the findings, conclusions, and recommendation of the 
master commissioner. 
January Term, 2002 
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We have reviewed the record and adopt the findings, conclusions, and 
recommendation of the board.  Respondent is hereby indefinitely suspended from 
the practice of law in Ohio.  Costs are taxed to respondent. 
Judgment accordingly. 
 
MOYER, C.J., DOUGLAS, RESNICK, F.E. SWEENEY, PFEIFER, COOK and 
LUNDBERG STRATTON, JJ., concur. 
__________________ 
 
Thomas P. Whelley II, for relator. 
__________________