If you believe you did not receive a proper result in a civil or criminal case, the ethics complaint process will not affect the outcome of your case. The lawyers investigating your ethics complaint cannot represent you or appeal the outcome of any case for you or recover money for you. The recovery of money damages or losses is not the purpose of the ethics complaint procedure. Filing an ethics complaint against a lawyer will not result in a recovery of the money you lost. If you suffer money damages or out of pocket losses as a result of your lawyer's mistakes or negligence, you may have a legal malpractice claim.
Malpractice lawsuits require a client to sue the lawyer within one year.
If you wish to file a malpractice claim against a lawyer, you should immediately consult with a different lawyer about the one year limitation and the damages you believe you have suffered. The Cuyahoga County Bar Association also offers a Fee Dispute Arbitration Panel to investigate monetary discrepancies between you and your attorney.