[Cite as Cleveland Metro. Bar Assn. v. Baasten , ___ Ohio St.3d ___, 2020-Ohio-4838.]

C LEVELAND M ETROPOLITAN B AR A SSOCIATION v . B AASTEN
. [Cite as Cleveland Metro. Bar Assn. v. Baasten , ___ Ohio St.3d ___, 2020-Ohio-4838.] (No. 2020-0164

— Submitted October 6, 2020

— Decided October 9, 2020.)
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 January 13, 2020. On February 26, 2020, this court imposed an interim defau lt suspension upon respondent, Ja son Matthew Baasten, pursuant to Gov.Bar R. V( 14)(B)(1). The parties were ordered to show cause why the interim default su spension should not be converte d into an indefinite suspension. No objections were f iled, and this cause was consi dered 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, Jason Matthew B aasten, Attorney Registration No. 0071027, last known address in Canton, Ohio, i s indefinitely suspended from the practice of law. {¶ 3} It is further ordered that res pondent immediately cease and des ist from the practice of law in any form and that respondent is hereby f orbidden to appear
on behalf of another before a ny court, judge, commission, board , administrative agency, or 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. {¶ 5} It is further ordered that res pondent is hereby divested of eac h, any, and all of the rights, privilege s, and prerogatives customarily accorded to a member in good standing of the leg al profession of Ohio.S UPREME C OURT OF O HIO

2 {¶ 6} It is further ordered that before entering into an employment, contractual, or consulting relationship 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 d irect client contact except as p rovided in Gov.Bar R. V(23)(A)(1) and from receiving, d isbursing, or otherwise handli ng any client trust funds 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 required by Gov. Bar R. X(13), respondent shall complete one credit
hour of instruction related to professional conduct required by Gov.Bar R. X(3)(B) for each six months, or portion of six months, of the suspensio n. {¶ 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 been aw arded against respondent by the Lawyers’ Fund fo r Client Protection pursuant to Gov.Bar R. VIII(7)(F). It is further ordered by the court that if after t he date of this order, the Lawyers’ Fund for Client Protection awards any amount against r espondent pursuant to Gov.Bar R. VIII(7)( F), respondent shall reimburse t hat amount to the Lawyers’ Fund for Client Protection within 90 days of the notic e 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 Bar of Ohio, (2) respondent complies with the Supreme Court Rules f or the Government of the Bar of Ohio, (3) respondent complies with this and all o ther orders of the court, and (4) this court or ders respondent reinstated. {¶ 10} It is further ordered that on or before 30 days from the date o f this order, respondent shall do the following:January Term, 2020

3 {¶ 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 another attorney in respondent’s place; {¶ 12} 2. Regardless of any fees or expenses due, deliver to all clie nts being represented in pending matters a ny papers or other property per taining to the client or notify the clients or cocouns el, if any, of a suitable time and place where the papers or other property may be obtained, calling attention to any urgency for obtaining such papers 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 for 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 litigation of respondent’s disqualification to act as an attorney after the effective date of this order and file a notice of dis qualification 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 showing compliance with this order, showing proof of 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.S UPREME C OURT OF O HIO

4 {¶ 18} It is further ordered that respondent shall keep the clerk, the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Associ ation, and disciplinary counse l advised of any change of address where responde nt may receive communications. {¶ 19} It is further ordered that service shall be deemed made on resp ondent by sending this order, and all other orders in this case, to re spondent’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)(D)(1) and tha t publication be made as provided for in Gov.Bar R. V(17)(D)(2).
O’C ONNOR , C.J., and K ENNEDY , F RENCH , F ISCHER , D E W INE , D ONNELLY , and S TEWART , JJ., concur.

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