Title: Disciplinary Counsel v. Schumann

State: ohio

Issuer: Ohio Supreme Court

Document:

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Thomas J. Moyer.                                                                 
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Office of Disciplinary Counsel v. Schumann.                                      
[Cite as Disciplinary Counsel v. Schumann (1994),      Ohio                      
St.3d     .]                                                                     
Attorneys at law -- Misconduct -- Public reprimand -- Conduct                    
     involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation.                  
     (No. 94-1813 --  Submitted October 24, 1994 -- Decided                      
December 7, 1994.)                                                               
     On Certified Report by the Board of Commissioners on                        
Grievances and Discipline of the Supreme Court, No. 94-10.                       
     By a complaint filed on February 22, 1994, relator, the                     
Office of Disciplinary Counsel, charged that respondent,                         
William Manning Schumann of Westerville, Ohio, Attorney                          
Registration No. 0017238, had signed a client's name to an                       
affidavit, notarized the purported signature of that client,                     
and then filed the notarized affidavit in the case of Keeling                    
v. Keeling, case No. 80DR-07-2286, Franklin County Court of                      
Common Pleas, Domestic Relations Division, and that he had                       
thereby violated DR 1-102(A)(3)(illegal conduct involving moral                  
turpitude); 1-102(A)(4)(conduct involving dishonesty, fraud,                     
deceit, or misrepresentation); 1-102(A)(5)(conduct prejudicial                   
to the administration of justice); and 1-102(A)(6)(conduct that                  
adversely reflects on his fitness to practice law).  Respondent                  
was served with the complaint, and filed an answer admitting                     
the facts from the complaint, but affirmatively stating that he                  
had signed the affidavit with the prior knowledge and consent                    
of his client, and denying that his conduct constituted a                        
violation of any Disciplinary Rule.                                              
     The matter was heard by a panel of the Board of                             
Commissioners on Grievances and Discipline of the Supreme Court                  
on June 27, 1994.  The record from the hearing reflects that                     
respondent has an active general practice in Westerville,                        
Ohio.  Respondent was engaged by Arlene Keeling on November 21,                  
1990, for the purpose of obtaining an increase in child support                  
and/or spousal support.                                                          
     During the representation of Keeling, respondent signed                     
Keeling's name on an affidavit of expenses, notarized the                        
signature, and filed the affidavit in the Franklin County Court                  
of Common Pleas.  Sometime following respondent's actions,                       
Keeling terminated the legal representation, and proceeded to                    
represent herself.                                                               
     Based on the evidence at the hearing, the panel found a                     
violation of DR 1-102(A)(4).  It then recommended that                           
respondent be publicly reprimanded.  The board adopted the                       
panel's findings and its recommendation, and also recommended                    
that the costs be taxed to respondent.                                           
                                                                                 
     Geoffrey Stern, Disciplinary Counsel, and Harald F. Craig                   
III, Assistant Disciplinary Counsel, for relator.                                
     William M. Schumann, pro se.                                                
                                                                                 
     Per Curiam.  Having thoroughly reviewed the record, we                      
agree with the board's findings of misconduct and its                            
recommendation.  Accordingly, respondent is hereby publicly                      
reprimanded.  Costs taxed to respondent.                                         
                                    Judgment accordingly.                        
     Moyer, C.J., A.W. Sweeney, Douglas, Wright, Resnick, F.E.                   
Sweeney and Pfeifer, JJ., concur.