Title: Disciplinary Counsel v. Droe

State: ohio

Issuer: Ohio Supreme Court

Document:

[Cite as Disciplinary Counsel v. Droe, 92 Ohio St.3d 16, 2001-Ohio-144.] 
 
 
OFFICE OF DISCIPLINARY COUNSEL v. DROE. 
[Cite as Disciplinary Counsel v. Droe (2001), 92 Ohio St.3d 16.] 
Attorneys at law — Misconduct — Permanent disbarment — Filing a lawsuit in 
common pleas court while under indefinite suspension and signing the 
name of another attorney as counsel, initialing that signature with 
respondent’s initials, and giving counsel’s address as respondent’s 
address – Two previous disciplinary proceedings. 
(No. 00-2283 — Submitted January 31, 2001 — Decided May 30, 2001.) 
ON CERTIFIED REPORT by the Board of Commissioners on Grievances and 
Discipline of the Supreme Court, No. 00-70. 
 
Per Curiam.  In November 1996, we suspended respondent, William G. 
Droe of Cleveland, Ohio, Attorney Registration No. 0040993, from the practice of 
law for one year with six months stayed. Cleveland Bar Assn. v. Droe (1996), 77 
Ohio St.3d 89, 671 N.E.2d 230.  Two years later, in December 1998, we 
suspended respondent from the practice of law indefinitely. Cleveland Bar Assn. 
v. Droe (1998), 84 Ohio St.3d 143, 702 N.E.2d 407. 
 
In October 1999, while under indefinite suspension, respondent filed a 
lawsuit in the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas, signing the name of 
attorney David H. Drucker as counsel, initialing that signature with “WD,” and 
giving counsel’s address as respondent’s address.  Drucker did not give 
respondent permission to sign his name nor did he maintain an office relationship 
with respondent at the address stated in the complaint. 
 
In March 2000, and again in April 2000, relator, Office of Disciplinary 
Counsel, attempted to contact respondent by certified mail about this incident.  
The first correspondence was returned to relator’s office marked “unclaimed.”  
The second correspondence was returned, “moved, left no address.”  On August 
SUPREME COURT OF OHIO 
2 
14, 2000, relator filed a complaint charging that respondent’s conduct violated 
DR 1-102(A)(3) (a lawyer shall not engage in illegal conduct involving moral 
turpitude), 1-102(A)(4) (a lawyer shall not engage in conduct involving 
dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation), 1-102(A)(5) (a lawyer shall not 
engage in conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice), 1-102(A)(6) (a 
lawyer shall not engage in any conduct which adversely reflects on the lawyer’s 
fitness to practice law), 3-101(B) (a lawyer shall not practice law in a jurisdiction 
where to do so would be in violation of regulations of the profession in that 
jurisdiction), 7-101(A)(3) but incorrectly listed as (A)(2) (a lawyer shall not 
intentionally prejudice or damage his client during the course of the professional 
relationship), and 7-102(A)(8) (in representing a client, a lawyer shall not engage 
in other illegal conduct or conduct contrary to a Disciplinary Rule).  The relator 
also charged that respondent violated Gov.Bar R. VI(1)(D), which requires that 
each attorney keep the Attorney Registration Office of the Supreme Court advised 
of his current address. 
 
The complaint, served by the relator by certified mail, was received by the 
respondent who failed to file an answer. The matter was referred to Master 
Commissioner Harry W. White, and the relator filed a motion for default 
judgment.  The master commissioner found the facts as set forth above and 
concluded that respondent violated the Disciplinary Rules and Rules for the 
Government of the Bar as charged, except that he found no violation of DR 7-
101(A)(3).  The master commissioner recommended that respondent be disbarred 
from the practice of law in Ohio.  The board adopted the findings, conclusions, 
and recommendation of the master commissioner. 
 
On review of the record, we adopt the findings and recommendation of the 
board.  Respondent is hereby permanently  disbarred from the practice of law in 
Ohio.  Costs are taxed to respondent. 
Judgment accordingly. 
January Term, 2001 
3 
 
MOYER, C.J., DOUGLAS, RESNICK, F.E. SWEENEY, PFEIFER, COOK and 
LUNDBERG STRATTON, JJ., concur. 
__________________ 
 
Jonathan E. Coughlan, Disciplinary Counsel, and Stacy Solochek 
Beckman, Assistant Disciplinary Counsel, for relator. 
__________________