Case Title: Cincinnati Bar Assn. v. Stern

Citation: 1997-Ohio-97

Docket Number: 19962784

State: ohio

Court: Ohio Supreme Court

Date: 1997-06-11T00:00:00Z

Document:
Cincinnati Bar Association v. Andrew Michael Stern. 
[Cite as Cincinnati Bar Assn. v. Stern (1997), ________Ohio 
St.3d_________.] 
(No. 96-2784 -- Submitted February 19, 1997 -- Decided June 11, 1997.) 
Attorneys at law -- Misconduct -- Indefinite suspension -- Failing to 
deposit client funds in an identifiable bank account -- Failing to 
deliver all property to which client is entitled -- Failing to 
promptly pay or deliver as requested by client funds which 
client was entitled to receive -- Neglecting an entrusted legal 
matter -- Failing to seek lawful objectives of client -- Failing to 
carry out contract of employment -- Failing to properly register 
as an attorney with the Supreme Court -- Failing to comply 
with educational and reporting requirements -- Failing to 
cooperate in investigation of a grievance. 
 
ON CERTIFIED REPORT by the Board of Commissioners on Grievances 
and Discipline of the Supreme Court, No. 96-64. 
 
On August 12, 1996, relator, Cincinnati Bar Association, filed a 
complaint charging respondent, Andrew Michael Stern of Ft. Thomas, 
Kentucky, Attorney Registration No. 0015023, with violations of several 
Disciplinary Rules and Rules for the Government of the Bar.  Respondent 
failed to answer or otherwise plead to the complaint.   
 
On October 31, 1996, relator filed a motion for default judgment.  A 
panel of the Board of Commissioners on Grievances and Discipline 
(“board”) heard the matter on the motion and its attachments and found that 
in March 1995, respondent undertook to represent Donald R. Fronk in a 
divorce action and related matters and received a $500 retainer from Fronk.  
Respondent made no filings on behalf of Fronk and refused to answer 
Fronk’s telephone calls regarding the status of the case.  Respondent then 
failed to return any portion of the $500 to Fronk when he dismissed 
respondent as his attorney and requested a return of the retainer.  
Respondent also failed to return phone calls from relator’s investigator.  
Respondent’s only response to the investigation was a January 1, 1996 letter 
to relator claiming that he had unsuccessful surgery on his shoulder and that 
the resulting medical complications prevented respondent from practicing 
law. 
 
The panel also found that respondent was suspended from the 
practice of law in the Commonwealth of Kentucky on January 22, 1996 for 
failure to comply with Kentucky’s mandatory continuing legal education 
requirements.  In addition, respondent has failed to register as an attorney 
with the Supreme Court of Ohio since August 4, 1992, registered late for the 
1991-1993 biennium, and failed to register at all for the 1993-1995 and the 
1995-1997 biennia.  Respondent failed to report his attendance at any 
approved continuing legal education courses between December 30, 1992 
and March 29, 1996, was given a sanction of $150 on April 15, 1994 for his 
noncompliance with the Ohio CLE requirements, and was given a further 
sanction in the amount of $750 on June 24, 1996 for continued 
noncompliance.  Respondent does not have an IOLTA account in Kentucky 
and apparently has no such account in Ohio. 
 
The panel concluded that respondent’s actions and failures to act 
resulted in violations of DR 9-102(A) (failing to deposit client funds in an 
identifiable bank account), 2-110(A)(2)(failing to deliver all property to 
which his client is entitled), 9-102(B)(4)(failing to promptly pay or deliver 
as requested by the client the funds which the client was entitled to receive), 
6-101(A)(3) (neglecting a legal matter entrusted to him), 7-101(A)(1) 
(failing to seek the lawful objectives of a client), 7-101(A)(2)(failing to 
carry our a contract of employment), Gov.Bar R. VI(1) and VII (2)(A) 
(failing to properly register his status as an attorney with the Supreme Court 
of Ohio), Gov.Bar R. X(3)(A) and X(3)(B)(1)(failing to comply with 
educational and reporting requirements), and Gov.Bar R. V(4)(G) (failing to 
cooperate with relator in the investigation of a grievance). 
 
In view of respondent’s total disregard of the disciplinary process, the 
panel recommended that respondent be indefinitely suspended from the 
practice of law.  The board adopted the findings, conclusions, and 
recommendation of the panel. 
____________________________________ 
 
James C. Crowley IV and Kevin L. Swick, for relator. 
____________________________________ 
 
Per Curiam.  We concur with the findings, conclusions, and 
recommendation of the board.  Respondent is indefinitely suspended from 
the practice of law in Ohio.  Costs of these proceedings are taxed to 
respondent. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Judgment accordingly. 
 
MOYER, C.J., DOUGLAS, RESNICK, F.E. SWEENEY, PFEIFER, COOK 
and LUNDBERG STRATTON, JJ., concur.