Case Name: Cincinnati Bar Association v. Harwood
Court: Supreme Court of Ohio
Jurisdiction: Ohio
Decision Date: 1999-10-13
Citations: 87 Ohio St. 3d 123
Docket Number: No. 99-372
Parties: Cincinnati Bar Association v. Harwood.
Judges: Moyer, C.J., Douglas, Resnick, F.E. Sweeney, Pfeifer and Lundberg Stratton, JJ., concur.
Reporter: Ohio State Reports, Third Service
Volume: 87
Pages: 123–126

Head Matter:
Cincinnati Bar Association v. Harwood.
[Cite as Cincinnati Bar Assn. v. Harwood (1999), 87 Ohio St.3d 123.]
(No. 99-372
Submitted June 8, 1999
Decided October 13, 1999.)
Maury M. Tepper, for relator.
John H. Phillips, for respondent.

Opinion:
Per Curiam.
We adopt the findings and conclusions of the board. Respondent's conduct resulted in harm to his clients, including three default judgments that could affect future credit ratings. However, we also recognize that respondent has acknowledged his problem and that he regrets his failure to live up to his duties as a member of the bar.
We therefore agree with the board that respondent should be and he hereby is suspended from the practice of law for two years. We stay the second year and substitute two years of probation. As a condition of respondent's resuming the practice of law during and after the probationary period, we require evidence that respondent was and is remaining under the care of his treating psychiatrist, who will have made and will continue to make reports to a monitoring attorney appointed by relator.
We do not agree with the board's recommendation that respondent be required to employ co-counsel whenever he becomes involved in litigation. However, because the record indicates that respondent's current problems are the result of confrontational situations, we recommend that respondent limit his practice as much as possible to transactional matters and avoid litigation.
Costs are taxed to respondent.
Judgment accordingly.
Moyer, C.J., Douglas, Resnick, F.E. Sweeney, Pfeifer and Lundberg Stratton, JJ., concur.
Cook, J., concurs in judgment only.