Title: Medina Cty. Bar Assn. v. Flickinger

State: ohio

Issuer: Ohio Supreme Court

Document:

[Cite as Medina Cty. Bar Assn. v. Flickinger, 95 Ohio St.3d 498, 2002-Ohio-2483.] 
 
 
MEDINA COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION v. FLICKINGER. 
[Cite as Medina Cty. Bar Assn. v. Flickinger, 95 Ohio St.3d 498, 2002-Ohio-
2483.] 
Unauthorized practice of law — Individual not licensed to practice law in Ohio 
prepared warranty deed conveying real estate and held herself out as an 
attorney at law in Ohio — Engagement in the unauthorized practice of 
law enjoined. 
(No. 2001-2195 — Submitted February 27, 2002 — Decided June 12, 2002.) 
ON FINAL REPORT of the Board of Commissioners on the Unauthorized Practice 
of Law, No. UPL012. 
__________________ 
 
Per Curiam. 
{¶1} 
In November 1998, Shirley May Flickinger of Medina, Ohio, a 
person not admitted to the practice of law in Ohio, prepared a warranty deed 
conveying real estate from Ken I.  Cleveland, grantor, to Shirley May Flickinger, 
as grantee.  The deed was prepared for the signature of Ken I. Cleveland.  One of 
the witness names typed on the deed was “Shirley May Flickinger.”  The notary 
signature portion of the deed was prepared for the signature of “Shirley May 
Flickinger, Attorney at Law/November 1977, Washington, D.C./American Bar 
Association.” 
{¶2} 
On November 10, 1998, Flickinger transmitted the deed to 
Cleveland under cover of a letter that read: “Please have your witness and self 
sign in the designated line.  I will have the title notized [sic].  Respectfully, 
Attorney-at-Law Shirley May Flickinger.” 
{¶3} 
Relator, Medina County Bar Association, contacted Flickinger 
about these activities, and shortly thereafter Flickinger  wrote to the Clerk of the 
SUPREME COURT OF OHIO 
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Supreme Court of Ohio asking for “confirmation on the licensing of Shirley May 
Flickinger * * * in or about November 1977, admitted to the American Bar 
Association, certified by Warren Berger [sic], Chief Justice of the United States 
Supreme Court, Washington, D.C.”  She signed the letter as Shirley May 
Flickinger, Attorney at Law.  The Attorney Registration Office of the Supreme 
Court of Ohio responded that it had “no record of her ever applying to take the bar 
exam for the State of Ohio.” 
{¶4} 
On January 29, 2001, relator filed a complaint charging that by 
preparing legal documents and holding herself out as an attorney, Flickinger was 
engaged in the unauthorized practice of law.  After the matter was referred to the 
Board of Commissioners on the Unauthorized Practice of Law (“board”), 
Flickinger did not answer the complaint.  Instead, she sent a letter to relator, dated 
July 16, 2001, stating that she did not practice law in Medina County and asking 
that the case be dismissed.  Flickinger did not appear at the hearing scheduled for 
August 15, 2001. 
{¶5} 
In response to relator’s motion for default, the board found the 
facts as stated.  The board concluded that Shirley May Flickinger, although not 
admitted to the practice of law in Ohio, prepared legal documents for another and 
otherwise held herself out as an attorney at law in Ohio and therefore was 
engaged in the unauthorized practice of law.  The board recommended that 
Flickinger be restrained from engaging in the unauthorized practice of law in the 
future. 
{¶6} 
On review of the record we adopt the findings, conclusions, and 
recommendation of the board.  Shirley May Flickinger is hereby enjoined from 
engaging in any activity in the future that may constitute the unauthorized practice 
of law.  Costs are taxed to Shirley May Flickinger. 
Judgment accordingly. 
January Term, 2002 
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MOYER, C.J., DOUGLAS, RESNICK, F.E. SWEENEY, PFEIFER, COOK and 
LUNDBERG STRATTON, JJ., concur. 
__________________ 
 
Richard Barbera, Shawn P. Martin and Elayne M. Siegfried, for relator. 
__________________