[Cite as King v. Pattison, 2013-Ohio-4665.]

COURT OF APPEALS 

MUSKINGUM COUNTY, OHIO 

FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT 

RONALD O. KING : JUDGES: 

 : 

 : Hon. W. Scott Gwin, P.J. 

 Plaintiff-Appellant : Hon. Sheila G. Farmer, J. 

 : Hon. Patricia A. Delaney, J. 

-vs- : 

 : Case No. CT2013-0010 

 : 

ROSS A. PATTISON, ET AL. : 

 : 

 : 

 Defendants-Appellees : O P I N I O N

CHARACTER OF PROCEEDING: Appeal from the Muskingum County 

Court of Common Pleas, CH2010-0135 

JUDGMENT: REVERSED & REMANDED 

DATE OF JUDGMENT ENTRY: September 30, 2013 

APPEARANCES: 

For Plaintiff-Appellant: For Defendants-Appellees: 

 

MILES D. FRIES ROBERT E. SOLES, JR. 

320 Main St. KEVIN C. COX 

P.O. Box 190 KARA DODSON 

Zanesville, OH 43702-1090 6545 Market Ave N. 

 North Canton, OH 44721 

 

 ERIC D. MARTIN 

 58 N. 5th St. 

 Heritage Suites #102 

 Zanesville, OH 43701 
Muskingum County, Case No.CT2013-0010 2 

Delaney, J. 

{¶1} Plaintiff-Appellant Ronald O. King appeals the February 8, 2013 judgment 

entry of the Muskingum County Court of Common Pleas. 

FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY 

{¶2} In 2006, Plaintiff-Appellant Ronald O. King entered into a lease agreement 

with Defendant-Appellee Pattico, LLC to lease a building located in Zanesville, Ohio. 

King operated a salvaging and recycling business at the location. In January 2007, 

Defendant-Appellee Ross A. Pattison notified King the lease was terminated and 

ordered King to vacate the building. King alleges that in February 2007, DefendantsAppellees Ross A. Pattison and Pattico, LLC wrongfully seized and disposed of King’s 

personal property and business inventory located at the rental property. 

{¶3} King filed his original complaint against Pattison and Pattico on February 

8, 2008. The complaint was dismissed and on February 19, 2010, King refiled his 

complaint against Pattison and Pattico. Pattison and Pattico filed motions for summary 

judgment, which were denied by the trial court. The matter was scheduled for jury trial 

on March 26, 2013. 

{¶4} On November 26, 2012, Pattison and Pattico filed a motion to disqualify 

King’s trial counsel, Miles D. Fries. In the motion, Pattison and Pattico alleged Attorney 

Fries was likely to be called as a witness at trial and should be disqualified pursuant to 

Prof.Cond.R. 3.7. Prof.Cond.R. 3.7 states: 

(a) A lawyer shall not act as an advocate at a trial in which the lawyer is 

likely to be a necessary witness unless one or more of the following 

applies: 
Muskingum County, Case No.CT2013-0010 3 

(1) the testimony relates to an uncontested issue; 

(2) the testimony relates to the nature and value of the legal services 

rendered in the case; 

(3) the disqualification of the lawyer would work substantial hardship on 

the client. (Emphasis sic.) 

{¶5} The motion to disqualify states that on March 30, 2007, Attorney Fries 

sent Pattison a letter on his client’s behalf, requesting that Pattison contact Attorney 

Fries within seven days of receipt to discuss the removal of King’s property from the 

rental property. The motion to disqualify states that on April 2, 2007, 

Pattison personally visited Attorney Fries’[s] office in regard to the matter. 

Attorney Fries’[s] office acknowledged that Defendant had been there, and 

accepted written correspondence from Defendant relating to the matter 

that Defendant had brought with him to deliver to Attorney Fries. 

Defendant had made this effort well within the seven days requested by 

Attorney Fries, and never received any further communication from 

Attorney Fries on the matter until commencement of suit the following 

year. 

{¶6} While Attorney Fries did not meet with Pattison, the motion alleged that 

Attorney Fries’s conduct on behalf of his client in making a demand, and subsequently 

not responding to Pattison’s attempt at resolution, made it likely that Attorney Fries may 

be called as a witness at trial in the action to rebut King’s claim for conversion. No 

affidavit or other evidence was attached to the motion. 
Muskingum County, Case No.CT2013-0010 4 

{¶7} King responded to the motion. He argued in part there was no fact in 

dispute because Attorney Fries would stipulate that he received correspondence from 

Pattison and did not respond to the correspondence. No affidavit or other evidence was 

attached to the response. Pattison filed a reply to its motion. 

{¶8} On February 8, 2013, the trial court granted the motion to disqualify King’s 

trial counsel. The trial court ordered new counsel to file an appearance within 10 days 

of the date of the judgment entry or King would proceed to trial on March 26, 2013 pro 

se. 

{¶9} It is from this decision King now appeals. 

ASSIGNMENTS OF ERROR 

{¶10} King raises one Assignment of Error: 

{¶11} “I. THE TRIAL COURT’S DECISION TO DISQUALIFY APPELLANT’S 

COUNSEL WAS AN ABUSE OF DISCRETION.” 

ANALYSIS 

{¶12} King argues in his sole Assignment of Error the trial court abused its 

discretion when it disqualified his trial counsel pursuant to Prof.Cond.R. 3.7. We agree. 

{¶13} An order disqualifying a civil trial counsel is a final order that is 

immediately appealable pursuant to R.C. 2505.02. See Kale v. Aluminum Smelting & 

Refining Co., Inc., 81 Ohio St.3d 1, 688 N.E.2d 258 (1998). We review the trial court's 

decision on a motion to disqualify for an abuse of discretion. 155 North High Ltd. v. 

Cincinnati Ins. Co., 72 Ohio St.3d 423, 650 N.E.2d 869 (1995), syllabus. In order to find 

an abuse of discretion, we must determine the trial court's decision was unreasonable, 
Muskingum County, Case No.CT2013-0010 5 

arbitrary, or unconscionable and not merely an error of law or judgment. Blakemore v. 

Blakemore, 5 Ohio St.3d 217, 450 N.E.2d 1140 (1983). 

{¶14} Trial courts have the “inherent power to disqualify an attorney from acting 

as counsel in a case when the attorney cannot or will not comply with the Code of 

Professional Responsibility and when such action is necessary to protect the dignity and 

authority of the court.” Horen v. City of Toledo Public School Dist., 174 Ohio App.3d 

317, 2007-Ohio-6883, 882 N.E.2d 14, ¶21 (6th Dist.). “However, because of the 

potential use of the advocate-witness rule for abuse, disqualification ‘is a drastic 

measure which should not be imposed unless absolutely necessary.’“ Waliszewski v. 

Caravona Builders, Inc., 127 Ohio App.3d 429, 433, 713 N.E.2d 65 (9th Dist.1998), 

quoting Spivey v. Bender, 77 Ohio App.3d 17, 22, 601 N.E.2d 56 (6th Dist.1991). See, 

also, A.B.B. Sanitec West, Inc. v. Weinsten, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 88258, 2007-Ohio2116, ¶ 12 (applying the current Rules of Professional Conduct). It is therefore 

important for the trial court to follow the proper procedures in determining whether 

disqualification is necessary. Brown v. Spectrum Networks, Inc., 180 Ohio App.3d 99, 

2008-Ohio-6687, 904 N.E.2d 576, ¶ 11 (1st Dist.) citing Kala v. Aluminum Smelting & 

Refining Co., Inc., 81 Ohio St.3d 1, 6, 688 N.E.2d 258 (1998). 

{¶15} Under Prof.Cond.R. 3.7, “[a] lawyer shall not act as an advocate at a trial 

in which the lawyer is likely to be a necessary witness * * *.” The rule lists three 

exceptions to disqualification: 

(1) the testimony relates to an uncontested issue; 

(2) the testimony relates to the nature and value of the legal services 

rendered in the case; 
Muskingum County, Case No.CT2013-0010 6 

(3) the disqualification of the lawyer would work substantial hardship on 

the client. (Emphasis sic.) 

{¶16} Prof.Cond.R. 3.7 replaced the former disciplinary rules DR 5-101(B) and 

DR 5-102(A) and (B), under the former Code of Professional Responsibility. Under the 

prior rules, the Ohio Supreme Court set forth the procedure for the trial court to follow in 

deciding whether a lawyer can serve as both an advocate and a witness. Brown, at ¶13 

citing Mentor Lagoons, Inc. v. Rubin, 31 Ohio St.3d 256, 510 N.E.2d 379 (1987). The 

court first had to determine the admissibility of the attorney’s testimony. If the trial court 

found the testimony admissible, the court then had to consider whether any exceptions 

to the disciplinary rules were applicable. Id., citing Mentor Lagoons, supra at paragraph 

two of the syllabus. If no exceptions applied, the attorney was disqualified from 

representing his or her client. The burden of proving disqualification was necessary 

rested on the moving party and the burden of proving one of the exceptions applied was 

on the attorney seeking to claim the exception. Id., citing Waliszewki, supra; 155 N. 

High Ltd. v. Cincinnati Ins. Co., 72 Ohio St.3d 423, 650 N.E.2d 869 (1995), at syllabus. 

{¶17} Under Prof.Cond.R. 3.7, a lawyer may be disqualified from representing 

his or her client only when it is likely the lawyer will be a “necessary” witness. A 

necessary witness under Prof.Cond.R. 3.7 is one whose testimony must be admissible 

and unobtainable through other trial witnesses. Popa Land Co., Ltd v. Fragnoli, 9th 

Dist. Medina No. 08CA0062–M, 2009–Ohio–1299, ¶ 15. “Testimony may be relevant 

and even highly useful but still not strictly necessary. A finding of necessity takes into 

account such factors as the significance of the matters, weight of the testimony and 

availability of other evidence. * * * A party's mere declaration of an intention to call 
Muskingum County, Case No.CT2013-0010 7 

opposing counsel as a witness is an insufficient basis for disqualification even if that 

counsel could give relevant testimony.” Akron v. Carter, 190 Ohio App.3d 420, 2010-

Ohio-5462, 942 N.E.2d 409, ¶19 (9th Dist.) quoting Puritas Metal Prods. Inc. v. Cole,

9th Dist. Lorain Nos. 07CA009255, 07CA009257, and 07CA009259, 2008-Ohio-4653, 

at ¶ 34 quoting Mettler v. Mettler (2007), 50 Conn.Supp. 357, 928 A.2d 631, 633. 

{¶18} In analyzing the prior disciplinary rules and Prof.Cond.R. 3.7, the First 

District in Brown v. Spectrum Networks, Inc., supra, determined the procedure for a trial 

court to follow in determining whether to disqualify an attorney who has been called to 

testify by the opposing party: 

(1) determine whether the attorney's testimony is admissible and (2) 

determine whether the attorney's testimony is necessary. Under the 

second part of this analysis, the court must decide whether the attorney's 

testimony is relevant and material to the issues being litigated and 

whether the testimony is unobtainable elsewhere. If the court determines 

that the lawyer's testimony is admissible and necessary, the court must 

then determine whether any of the exceptions set forth under Rule 3.7 

apply. 

Brown, at ¶ 15. See also, Ross v. Olsavsky, 7th Dist. Mahoning No. 09 MA 95, 2010-

Ohio-1310. 

{¶19} In considering the two prongs of the disqualification determination, the 

parties in this case dispute whether the trial court is required to hold an evidentiary 

hearing on a motion for disqualification. The First District Court of Appeals in Brown v. 

Spectrum Networks, Inc. held the record in the case below was devoid of any evidence 
Muskingum County, Case No.CT2013-0010 8 

upon which to make a determination for disqualification pursuant to the procedural 

analysis. 180 Ohio App.3d 99, 2008-Ohio-6687, 904 N.E.2d 576, ¶ 16. The court 

remanded the matter to the trial court to hold an evidentiary hearing, either by oral 

hearing or paper hearing, so long as there was sufficient evidence before the trial court 

through depositions, affidavits, or written stipulations as to what counsel’s testimony 

would be for the trial court to properly consider in making its findings. Id. at ¶ 18. This 

Court has held that an evidentiary hearing where the parties may examine and crossexamine witnesses is not necessary on all motions for disqualification. Shawnee 

Assocs., L.P. v. Shawnee Hills, 5th Dist. Delaware No. 07CAE050022, 2008-Ohio-461, 

¶ 34. 

{¶20} Brown v. Spectrum Networks comports with our holding in Shawnee 

Assocs., L.P. v. Shawnee Hills in that an evidentiary hearing with witnesses is not 

necessary in all cases of motions for disqualification. The cases both conclude that the 

parties, in meeting their respective burdens under Prof.Cond.R. 3.7, must present 

sufficient evidence so the trial court can make a determination as to the admissibility of 

the testimony, whether the testimony is necessary, and whether any exceptions apply. 

This conclusion is supported by the warning that “disqualification ‘is a drastic measure 

which should not be imposed unless absolutely necessary.’” Waliszewski v. Caravona 

Builders, Inc., 127 Ohio App.3d 429, 433, 713 N.E.2d 65 (9th Dist.1998), quoting Spivey 

v. Bender, 77 Ohio App.3d 17, 22, 601 N.E.2d 56 (6th Dist.1991). See, also, A.B.B. 

Sanitec West, Inc. v. Weinsten, 8th Dist. No. 88258, 2007-Ohio-2116, ¶ 12 (applying the 

current Rules of Professional Conduct). 
Muskingum County, Case No.CT2013-0010 9 

{¶21} The parties in this case agree to the factual scenario that Pattison cites as 

supporting his argument that Attorney Fries is likely to be a necessary witness as to 

King’s claim for conversion. According to the motion to disqualify, Attorney Fries sent 

Pattison a letter to discuss the removal of King’s property. Pattison came to Attorney 

Fries’s office to hand deliver a responsive letter, which Attorney Fries’s office agrees it 

received. Attorney Fries never spoke to Pattison. Attorney Fries did not respond to the 

letter. In the response to the motion to disqualify, Attorney Fries states he never read 

Pattison’s letter. The record in this case contains a July 11, 2012 affidavit from Pattison 

as to the contents of the letter he hand delivered to Attorney Fries’s office. Pattison 

avers in the July 11, 2012 affidavit that his letter stated he was ready, willing, and able 

to return King’s property. He next states he never heard from King or Attorney Fries. 

{¶22} In its February 8, 2013 order, the trial court granted appellee’s motion to 

disqualify without any reasoned analysis. We find this action does not satisfy the 

disqualification requirements as contemplated by Prof.Cond.R. 3.7. 

{¶23} While the testimony of Attorney Fries in this case may be arguably 

admissible, we find it was an abuse of discretion for the trial court to disqualify Attorney 

Fries’s without determining any factual and/or legal conclusions relevant to the required 

analysis for granting disqualification. We vacate the February 8, 2013 judgment entry 

granting the motion to disqualify King’s trial counsel. 

{¶24} The sole Assignment of Error of Plaintiff-Appellant Ronald O. King is 

sustained. 

 
Muskingum County, Case No.CT2013-0010 10 

CONCLUSION 

{¶25} The February 8, 2013 judgment of the Muskingum County Court of 

Common Pleas is reversed and this matter is remanded to the trial court for further 

proceedings in accordance with this Opinion. 

By: Delaney, J., 

Gwin, P.J. and 

Farmer, J., concur. 

HON. PATRICIA A. DELANEY 

HON. W. SCOTT GWIN 

HON. SHEILA G. FARMER