[Cite as Columbus Bar Assn. v. Chambers , ___ Ohio St.3d ___, 2022-Ohio-3839.]

C OLUMBUS B AR A SSOCIATION v . C HAMBERS

. [Cite as Columbus Bar Assn. v. Chambers , ___ Ohio St.3d ___, 2022-Ohio-3839.] (No. 2022-0534

— Submitted October 25, 2022

— Decided October 28, 2022.)

O N C ERTIFICATION OF D EFAULT

.

____________________ {¶ 1} The Board of Professional Conduct filed a certification of defa ult in the office of the clerk of this court on May 9, 2022. On June 6, 2022, this court imposed an interim default suspension upon respondent, Richard Francis Chambers II, pursuant to Gov.Bar R. V(14)(B)(1). The parties w ere ordered to show cause why the interim default suspension should not be con verted into an indefinite suspension. No objec tions were filed, and this caus e was considered by

the court. {¶ 2} On consideration thereof, it is ordered and adjudged by this co urt that pursuant to Gov.Bar R. V(14)(E)(1), respondent, Richard Fr ancis Chambers II, Attorney Registration No. 0081139, last known address in Co lumbus, Ohio, is indefinitely suspended fro m the practice of law. {¶ 3} It is further ordered that respondent immediately cease and des ist from the practice of law in any form and that respondent is her eby forbidden to appear on behalf of another be fore any court, judge, commission , board, administrative agency, o r other public authority. {¶ 4} It is further ordered that respondent is hereby forbidden to co unsel, advise, or prepare legal instrum ents for others or in any manne r perform legal

services for others.S UPREME C OURT OF O HIO

2 {¶ 5} It is further ordered that res pondent is hereby divested of eac h, any, and all of the rights, privile ges, and prerogatives customarily accorded to a member in good standing of the l egal profession of Ohio. {¶ 6} It is further ordered that befor e entering into an employment, contractual, or consulting rela tionship with any attorney or la w firm, respondent shall verify that the attorney or law firm has complied with th e registration requirements of Gov.Bar R. V(23)(C ). If employed pursuant to G ov.Bar R. V(23), respondent shall refrain from direct client contact exce pt as provided in Gov.Bar R. V(23)(A)(1) and from receiving, disbursing, or other wise handling any client trust f unds or property. {¶ 7} It is further ordered that pursuant to Gov.Bar R. X(13), respon dent shall complete one credit hour o f continuing legal education fo r each month, or portion of a month, of the suspension. As part of the total cr edit hours of continuing legal education requi red by Gov.Bar R. X(13), respon dent shall complete one credit hour of inst ruction related to professional conduct required by Gov.Bar R. X(3)(B) for each six m onths, or portion of six month s, of the suspension. {¶ 8} It is further ordered by the court that within 90 days of the d ate of this order, respondent shall reimburse any amounts that have be en awarded against respondent by the Lawyer s’ Fund for Client Protection p ursuant to Gov.Bar R. VIII(7)(F). It is further ordered by the court that if after the date of this order, the Lawyers’ Fund for Client Protection awards any amount against respondent pursuant to Gov.Bar R . VIII(7)(F), respondent shall reimburse that amount to the Lawyers’ Fund for C lient Protection within 90 day s of the notice of

that award. {¶ 9} It is further ordered that respondent shall not be reinstated t o the practice of law in Ohio until (1 ) respondent complies with the requirements for reinstatement set forth in the Supreme Court Rules for the Gove rnment of the BarJanuary Term, 2022

3 of Ohio, (2) respondent complies with the Supreme Court Rules f or the Government of the Bar of Ohio, (3) respondent complies with thi s and all other orders of the court, and (4) this court orders respondent reins tated. {¶ 10} It is further ordered that on or before 30 days from the date o f this order, respondent shall do the following: {¶ 11} 1. Notify all clients being represented in pending matters and any cocounsel of respondent’s suspens ion and consequent disqualific ation to act as an attorney after the effective da te of this order and, in the abs ence of cocounsel, also notify the clients to seek legal services elsewhere, calling at tention to any urgency in seeking the substitution of anot her attorney in respondent’s place; {¶ 12} 2. Regardless of any fees or expenses due, deliver to all clie nts being represented in pending ma tters any papers or other proper ty pertaining to the client or notify the client s or cocounsel, if any, of a sui table time and place where the papers or other prope rty may be obtained, calling att ention to any urgency for obtaining such pape rs or other property; {¶ 13} 3. Refund any part of any fees or expenses paid in advance tha t are unearned or not paid and account f or any trust money or propert y in the possession or control of respondent; {¶ 14} 4. Notify opposing counsel or, in the absence of counsel, the adverse parties in pending litig ation of respondent’s disqualif ication to act as an attorney after the effective da te of this order and file a noti ce of disqualification of respondent with the court or agenc y before which the litigation is pending for inclusion in the resp ective file or files; {¶ 15} 5. Send all notices required by this order by certified mail w ith a

return address where communicati ons may thereafter be directed to respondent; {¶ 16} 6. File with the clerk of this c ourt and disciplinary counsel of the Supreme Court an affidavit showi ng compliance with this order, showing proof ofS UPREME C OURT OF O HIO

4 service of the notices required herein, and setting forth the a ddress where the respondent may receive communications; and {¶ 17} 7. Retain and maintain a record of the various steps taken by respondent pursuant to this order. {¶ 18} It is further ordered that respondent shall keep the clerk, Col umbus Bar Association, and disciplinar y counsel advised of any change of address where respondent may receive communications. {¶ 19} It is further ordered that service shall be deemed made on respondent by sending this order, and all other orders in this case, to respondent’s

last known address. {¶ 20} It is further ordered that the clerk of this court issue certif ied copies of this order as provided for in Gov.Bar R. V(17)(E)(1) and tha t publication be made as provided for in Gov.Bar R. V(17)(E)(2).

O’C ONNOR , C.J., and K ENNEDY , F ISCHER , D E W INE , D ONNELLY , S TEWART , and B RUNNER , JJ., concur.

_________________