Case Name: Office of Disciplinary Counsel v. Fortado
Court: Supreme Court of Ohio
Jurisdiction: Ohio
Decision Date: 1996-02-28
Citations: 74 Ohio St. 3d 604
Docket Number: No. 95-1665
Parties: Office of Disciplinary Counsel v. Fortado.
Judges: Moyer, C.J., Douglas, Wright, Resnick, F.E. Sweeney, Pfeifer and Cook, JJ., concur.
Reporter: Ohio State Reports, Third Service
Volume: 74
Pages: 604–607

Head Matter:
Office of Disciplinary Counsel v. Fortado.
[Cite as Disciplinary Counsel v. Fortado (1996), 74 Ohio St.3d 604.]
(No. 95-1665
Submitted January 9, 1996
Decided February 28, 1996.)
Geoffrey Stem, Disciplinary Counsel, and Sally Ann Steuk, Assistant Disciplinary Counsel, for relator.
Charles W. Kettlewell, for respondent.

Opinion:
Per Curiam.
Fortado asks that we stay his entire two-year suspension, citing Disciplinary Counsel v. Casalinuovo (1993), 66 Ohio St.3d 367, 613 N.E.2d 177, and Disciplinary Counsel v. Carter (1994), 68 Ohio St.3d 568, 629 N.E.2d 430. Casalinuovo and Carter were cases of attorneys who, after being found guilty of drug abuse, received treatment in lieu of conviction under R.C. 2951.041. But in those cases, the respondents were sanctioned solely for using illegal drugs. Fortado is guilty of other misconduct as well; he admits two violations each of DR 1-102(A)(6) and Gov.Bar R. V(4)(G), including the improper disbursement of $11,500 of a client's funds and repeated failures to cooperate with relator's investigation.
Accordingly, we adopt the board's findings, conclusions, and recommendation. Matthew Fortado is suspended from the practice of law in Ohio for two years. One year of this sanction is stayed on the conditions recommended by the board as stated above. Costs taxed to respondent.
Judgment accordingly.
Moyer, C.J., Douglas, Wright, Resnick, F.E. Sweeney, Pfeifer and Cook, JJ., concur.