Case Title: Ohio State Bar Assn. v. Appraisal Research Corp.

Citation: 2010-Ohio-2204

Docket Number: 20100151

State: ohio

Court: Ohio Supreme Court

Date: 2010-05-25T00:00:00Z

Document:
[Until this opinion appears in the Ohio Official Reports advance sheets, it may be cited as 
Ohio State Bar Assn. v. Appraisal Research Corp., Slip Opinion No. 2010-Ohio-2204.] 
 
 
NOTICE 
This slip opinion is subject to formal revision before it is published in 
an advance sheet of the Ohio Official Reports.  Readers are requested 
to promptly notify the Reporter of Decisions, Supreme Court of Ohio, 
65 South Front Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215, of any typographical or 
other formal errors in the opinion, in order that corrections may be 
made before the opinion is published. 
 
SLIP OPINION NO. 2010-OHIO-2204 
OHIO STATE BAR ASSOCIATION v. APPRAISAL RESEARCH  
CORPORATION ET AL. 
[Until this opinion appears in the Ohio Official Reports advance sheets, it 
may be cited as Ohio State Bar Assn. v. Appraisal Research Corp.,  
Slip Opinion No. 2010-Ohio-2204.] 
Unauthorized practice of law — Defended corporation’s appraisals at board-of-
revision hearings — Consent decree accepted — Injunction imposed. 
(No. 2010-0151 — Submitted February 17, 2010 — Decided May 25, 2010.) 
ON FINAL REPORT by the Board on the Unauthorized Practice of Law of the 
Supreme Court, No. UPL 09-04. 
__________________ 
Per Curiam. 
{¶ 1} Pursuant to Gov.Bar R. VII(5b), the Board on the Unauthorized 
Practice of Law has recommended our approval of a consent decree proposed by 
relator, Ohio State Bar Association, and respondents, Appraisal Research 
Corporation (“ARC”), Sue Maag, and Richard H. Hoffman.  We accept the 
SUPREME COURT OF OHIO 
2 
 
board’s recommendation and approve the proposed consent decree submitted by 
the parties as follows: 
{¶ 2} “1.  Respondent, ARC provides appraisal services to counties 
throughout Ohio, specifically to County auditors. 
{¶ 3} “2.  In addition to [those appraisal duties], Respondents ARC, 
Hoffman, and Maag assumed, with the consent of the Boards of Revision, duties 
to ‘defend’ ARC’s appraisals at hearings of the Boards of Revision, to examine 
witnesses at such hearings, and to render advice concerning the conduct of such 
hearings. 
{¶ 4} “3.  Respondents admit [that they defended ARC’s appraisals at 
hearings of the Boards of Revision, examined witnesses at such hearings, and 
rendered advice concerning the conduct of such hearings], and that [that conduct] 
constitutes the unauthorized practice of law.  Respondents state that they acted 
with a good faith belief that this conduct was proper pursuant to the provisions of 
[Ohio Adm.Code] 5703-25-08 * * *. 
{¶ 5} “4.  Respondents have ceased the conduct [that constitutes the 
unauthorized practice of law], have agreed not to engage in such conduct in the 
future, and have consented to the imposition of an injunction against future 
unauthorized practice of law. 
{¶ 6} “5.  Relator’s position is that no penalty be imposed, and the Board 
so recommends. 
{¶ 7} “6.  Respondents, and their respective successors and assigns, 
agents, members, officers, representatives and employees are permanently 
enjoined from defending their appraisals at hearings, examining witnesses at such 
hearings, rendering legal advice, and otherwise engaging in the unauthorized 
practice of law. 
{¶ 8} “7.  Respondents are ordered to notify in writing the auditor of 
each of the counties in Ohio that employed one or more of Respondents to 
January Term, 2010 
3 
 
provide services to its Board of Revision that, by engaging in the prohibited 
conduct, Respondents engaged in the unauthorized practice of law and to deliver 
to Relator’s counsel a copy of each such notice. 
{¶ 9} “8.  Respondents are hereby ordered to reimburse the Board and 
Relator their costs and expenses in this matter. 
{¶ 10} “9.  Respondents are hereby ordered to pay costs. 
{¶ 11} “10.  No civil penalty is imposed.” 
Judgment accordingly. 
 
PFEIFER, LUNDBERG STRATTON, O’CONNOR, O’DONNELL, LANZINGER, and 
CUPP, JJ., concur. 
 
BROWN, C.J., not participating. 
__________________ 
Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, L.L.P., and John N. MacKay; and Eugene 
Whetzel, for relator. 
Ralph D. Russo, for respondent. 
______________________