[Cite as Lorain Cty. Bar Assn. v. Vagotis , ___ Ohio St.3d ___, 2021-Ohio-2756.]

L ORAIN C OUNTY B AR A SSOCIATION v . V AGOTIS

. [Cite as Lorain Cty. Bar Assn. v. Vagotis , ___ Ohio St.3d ___, 2021-Ohio-2756.] (No. 2020-1193

— Submitted July 6, 2021

— Decided August 12, 2021.)

O N O RDER TO S HOW C AUSE

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____________________ {¶ 1} On March 18, 2021, this court publicly reprimanded respondent, Christina Nicole Vagotis, and or dered respondent to pay board c osts in the amount of $572.97. Respondent has not paid board costs in the amount of $572.97 as ordered by the court. On July 6, 2021, this court i ssued an order to show cause why respondent should not be found in contempt and s uspended for failure to pay board costs. Respondent did not file a response to the show cause

order. {¶ 2} Upon consideration thereof, it is ordered and adjudged by this court that respondent, Christina Nicole Vagotis, Attorney Registratio n No. 0096246, last known address in Elyria, Ohio, is found in contempt for fa ilure to comply

with the court’s March 18, 2021 order. {¶ 3} It is further ordered that respondent is suspended from the pra ctice of law until respondent pays board costs in the amount of $572. 97 and all interest due, has applied for reinstatemen t, and has been granted reinst atement by this

court. {¶ 4} 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 inS UPREME C OURT OF O HIO

2 Gov.Bar R. V(23)(A)(1) and from receiving, disbursing, or other wise handling any client trust f unds or property. {¶ 5} 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. {¶ 6} It is further ordered that respondent shall not be reinstated t o the practice of law in Ohio until (1 ) respondent pays the board cos ts, including any and all accrued interest, (2) re spondent complies with the requ irements for reinstatement set forth in the Supreme Court Rules for the Gove rnment of the Bar of Ohio, (3) respondent complies with the Supreme Court Rules f or the Government of the Bar of Ohio, (4) respondent complies with thi s and all other orders of the court, and (5) this court orders respondent reins tated. {¶ 7} It is further ordered that respondent shall immediately do the following: {¶ 8} 1. Notify all clients being re presented 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; {¶ 9} 2. Regardless of any fees or e xpenses 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;January Term, 2021

3 {¶ 10} 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 respondent’s possession or control; {¶ 11} 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; {¶ 12} 5. Send all notices required by th is order by certified mail wi th a

return address where communicati ons may thereafter be directed to respondent; {¶ 13} 6. File with the clerk of this c ourt and disciplinary counsel o f the Supreme Court an affidavit showi ng 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 {¶ 14} 7. Retain and maintain a record o f the various steps taken by respondent pursuant to this order. {¶ 15} It is further ordered that respondent shall keep the clerk, the Lorain County Bar Association, and disc iplinary counsel advised of any change of address where respondent m ay receive communications. {¶ 16} It is further ordered that all documents filed with this court in this case shall meet the filing requirements set forth in the Rules of Practice of the Supreme Court of Ohio, including requirements as to form, numbe r, and timeliness of filings. All case documents are subject to Sup.R . 44 through 47, which govern access to court records. {¶ 17} It is further ordered that service shall be deemed made on respondent by sending this order, and all other orders in this case, by certified mail to respondent’s l ast known address.S UPREME C OURT OF O HIO

4 {¶ 18} 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 that 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.

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