[Cite as Disciplinary Counsel v. Gold , ___ Ohio St.3d ___, 2021-Ohio-589.]

D ISCIPLINARY C OUNSEL v . G OLD
. [Cite as Disciplinary Counsel v. Gold , ___ Ohio St.3d ___, 2021-Ohio-589.] (No. 2021-0167

— Submitted February 5, 2021

— Decided March 5, 2021.)
O N C ERTIFICATION OF D EFAULT

.

____________________ {¶ 1} On February 5, 2021, and pursuant to Gov.Bar R. V(14)(A), the B oard
of Professional Conduct filed with this cour t a certification o f default, alleging that respondent, John Walter Gold, failed to file an answer to a for mal complaint pending before the board. Res pondent did not file a response. {¶ 2} Upon consideration thereof and pursuant to Gov.Bar R. V(14)(B)( 1), it is ordered and decreed that an interim default suspension is immediately entered against John Walter Gold, Attorney Registration No. 0078414, la st known business address in Westlake, Ohio, and th at the suspension is effective as of the date of this entry. {¶ 3} It is further ordered that res pondent immediately cease and des ist from the practice of law in any form and that he is hereby forbidden to appear on behalf of another before any court, judge, commission, board, administ rative agency, or other public authority. {¶ 4} It is further ordered that effective immediately, respondent is forbidden to counsel, advise, or p repare legal instruments for others or in any manner perform legal s ervices 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. {¶ 6} It is further ordered that before entering into an employment, contractual, or consulting relationship with any attorney or la w firm, respondentS UPREME C OURT OF O HIO

2 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 except as p rovided in Gov.Bar R. V(23)(A)(1) and from receiving, disbursing, or otherwise han dling 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 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 this and all other orders issued by this court, (3) respondent complies with the Supreme Court Rules for the Go vernment of the Bar of Ohio, and (4) this court orders respondent reinstated. {¶ 9} 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 by the Lawyers’ Fund for Client Protection pursuant to Gov.Bar R. VIII (7)(F). It is further ordered by the court that if afte r the date of this order the L awyers’ Fund for Client Protection awards any amount aga inst respondent pursuant to Gov .Bar R. VIII(7)(F), respondent shall reimburse that amount to the Lawye rs’ Fund for Client Protection within 90 days of the notice of that award. {¶ 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 anJanuary Term, 2021

3 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 f or any trust money or propert y in his possession or control; {¶ 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 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 res pondent shall keep the clerk and disciplinary counsel advised of any change of address where res pondent may
receive communications.S UPREME C OURT OF O HIO

4 {¶ 19} It is further ordered that all documents filed with this court in this case shall meet the filing require ments 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 throug h 47, which govern
access to court records. {¶ 20} It is further ordered that service shall be deemed made on resp ondent by sending this order, and all other orders in this case, by ce rtified mail to the most recent address respondent has gi ven to the Office of Attorney S ervices. {¶ 21} 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.

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