Title: Disciplinary Counsel v. Sheatsley

State: ohio

Issuer: Ohio Supreme Court

Document:

OPINIONS OF THE SUPREME COURT OF OHIO                               
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Thomas J. Moyer.                                                                 
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Office of Disciplinary Counsel v. Sheatsley.                                     
[Cite as Disciplinary Counsel v. Sheatsley (1995),      Ohio                     
St.3d     .]                                                                     
Attorneys at law -- Misconduct -- Public reprimand --                            
     Reciprocal discipline for violation of disciplinary rule                    
     in West Virginia.                                                           
     (No. 95-9 -- Submitted February 7, 1995 -- Decided May 24,                  
1995,)                                                                           
     On Certified Order of the Supreme Court of Appeals of West                  
Virginia, No. 22287.                                                             
     Respondent, James Raymond Sheatsley of Beckley, West                        
Virginia, Atttorney Registration No. 0023348, was admitted to                    
the practice of law in Ohio on November 20, 1978 and is also                     
licensed to practice law in West Virginia.  On November 21,                      
1994, the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia determined                   
that respondent had violated former DR 7-109(C) of the West                      
Virginia Code of Professional Responsibility (now Rule 1.8[k]                    
of the West Virginia Rules of Professional Conduct), which                       
provided that: "A lawyer shall not pay, offer to pay, or                         
acquiesce in the payment of compensation to a witness                            
contingent upon the content of his testimony or the outcome of                   
the case."  The court issued respondent a public reprimand for                   
this misconduct and ordered him to pay the costs of the                          
disciplinary proceeding.                                                         
     Pursuant to the reciprocal discipline provisions of                         
Gov.Bar R. V(11)(F)(1), relator, Office of Disciplinary                          
Counsel, filed a certified copy of the order of the Supreme                      
Court of Appeals of West Virginia with the Clerk of this                         
court.  On January 5, 1995, we ordered respondent to show cause                  
why we should not impose identical or comparable discipline in                   
Ohio.  On January 30, 1995, respondent advised us that he had                    
no evidence to submit in response to the show cause order.                       
                                                                                 
     Geoffrey Stern, Disciplinary Counsel, and Sally Ann Steuk,                  
Assistant Disciplinary Counsel, for relator.                                     
     James R. Sheatsley, pro se.                                                 
                                                                                 
     Per Curiam.  As respondent has offered no reason why he                     
should not receive discipline comparable to that imposed by the                  
Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia, we hereby publicly                    
reprimand respondent.  Costs taxed to respondent.                                
                                     Judgment accordingly.                       
     Moyer, C.J., Douglas, Wright, Resnick, F.E. Sweeney,                        
Pfeifer and Cook, JJ., concur.