Title: Ohio State Bar Assn. v. Am. Foreclosure Specialists, L.L.C.

State: ohio

Issuer: Ohio Supreme Court

Document:

[Until this opinion appears in the Ohio Official Reports advance sheets, it may be cited as 
Ohio State Bar Assn. v. Am. Foreclosure Specialists, L.L.C., Slip Opinion No. 2010-Ohio-148.] 
 
 
NOTICE 
This slip opinion is subject to formal revision before it is published in 
an advance sheet of the Ohio Official Reports.  Readers are requested 
to promptly notify the Reporter of Decisions, Supreme Court of Ohio, 
65 South Front Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215, of any typographical or 
other formal errors in the opinion, in order that corrections may be 
made before the opinion is published. 
 
SLIP OPINION NO. 2010-OHIO-148 
OHIO STATE BAR ASSOCIATION v. AMERICAN FORECLOSURE  
SPECIALISTS, L.L.C. 
[Until this opinion appears in the Ohio Official Reports advance sheets, it 
may be cited as Ohio State Bar Assn. v. Am. Foreclosure Specialists, L.L.C., 
Slip Opinion No. 2010-Ohio-148.] 
Unauthorized practice of law — Consent decree pursuant to Gov.Bar R. VII(5b) 
— Conduct enjoined. 
(No. 2009-1640 ⎯ Submitted September 30, 2009 ⎯ Decided January 27, 2010.) 
ON FINAL REPORT by the Board on the Unauthorized Practice of Law of the 
Supreme Court, No. UPL 08-02. 
__________________ 
{¶ 1} Pursuant to Gov.Bar R. VII(5b), the Board on the Unauthorized 
Practice of Law has recommended our approval of a consent decree proposed by 
relator, Ohio State Bar Association, and respondent, American Foreclosure 
Specialists, L.L.C.  We accept the board’s recommendation and approve the 
proposed consent decree submitted by the parties as follows: 
SUPREME COURT OF OHIO 
2 
 
{¶ 2} 1.  Respondent admits that it engaged in the unauthorized practice 
of law by drafting and preparing a court pleading and providing it to one of its 
customers with instructions to file the same with the court. 
{¶ 3} 2.  American Foreclosure Specialists, L.L.C., its successors and 
assigns, and its officers, members, agents, representatives, and employees are 
permanently enjoined from providing legal advice and drafting and preparing 
court pleadings for and on behalf of residents of the state of Ohio. 
{¶ 4} 3.  American Foreclosure Specialists, L.L.C., its successors and 
assigns, and its officers, members, agents, representatives, and employees are 
permanently enjoined from providing legal services, including the drafting of 
court pleadings or providing legal advice to Ohio residents or otherwise engaging 
in the unauthorized practice of law in the state of Ohio. 
{¶ 5} 4.  American Foreclosure Specialists, L.L.C. agrees to refund the 
sum of Nine Hundred Ninety Five Dollars ($995) to Scott A. Heffernan and 
Patricia A. Heffernan, which sum represents the fee paid by Scott A. Heffernan 
and Patricia A Heffernan to respondent, American Foreclosure Specialists, L.L.C. 
{¶ 6} 5.  Pursuant to Gov.Bar R. VII(8)(B) and UPL Reg. 400(F), no 
civil penalty is to be imposed for the reasons that: 
{¶ 7} a. Respondent fully and completely cooperated in the investigation 
of this complaint and admitted engaging in the unauthorized practice of law;  
{¶ 8} b. Only one instance of the unauthorized practice of law was 
committed; 
{¶ 9} c. Respondent has never previously been charged with the 
unauthorized practice of law;  
{¶ 10} d. American Foreclosure Specialists, L.L.C., agrees to refund to 
the affected third parties the fees charged by American Foreclosure Specialists, 
L.L.C. 
{¶ 11} Costs are taxed to respondent. 
January Term, 2010 
3 
 
So ordered. 
 
MOYER, 
C.J., 
and 
PFEIFER, 
LUNDBERG 
STRATTON, 
O’CONNOR, 
O’DONNELL, LANZINGER, and CUPP, JJ., concur. 
__________________ 
Buckingham, Doolittle & Burroughs, L.L.P., and Robert C. Meyer; and 
Eugene P. Whetzel, Bar Counsel, for relator. 
Jurca & Lashuk, L.L.C., and Jeffrey J. Jurca, for respondent. 
______________________