Court Opinion

ID: 2689826
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-08-01 20:23:08.181391+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:50:51.670130
License: Public Domain

[Cite as Toledo Bar Assn. v. Palmer, 90 Ohio St. 3d 458, 2000-Ohio-95.]

                       TOLEDO BAR ASSOCIATION v. PALMER.
         [Cite as Toledo Bar Assn. v. Palmer (2000), 90 Ohio St. 3d 458.]
Unauthorized practice of law — Individual not licensed to practice law in Ohio
       prepared and filed a complaint, a motion, and an answer on behalf of
       three separate clients, and explicitly represented himself as defendant’s
       attorney in one instance in a motion he prepared and subsequently filed
       to withdraw as counsel — Engagement in the unauthorized practice of
       law enjoined.
  (No. 00-1140 — Submitted August 22, 2000 — Decided December 27, 2000.)
ON REPORT of the Board of Commissioners on the Unauthorized Practice of Law,
                                  No. UPL 99-2.
       On June 21, 1999, relator, Toledo Bar Association, filed a complaint
charging respondent, Edward E. Palmer, with engaging in the unauthorized
practice of law. Respondent failed to answer but filed a letter with the Board of
Commissioners on the Unauthorized Practice of Law (“board”) admitting the
allegations set forth in the complaint. Pursuant to Gov.Bar R. VII(7)(C), the
parties filed a stipulation of facts and waiver of notice and a formal hearing before
the board.
       The board found that although respondent is not licensed to practice law in
Ohio, he rendered legal services for clients on three separate occasions.         In
January 1998, respondent prepared and filed a complaint on behalf of Catherine
O’Conner in the Common Pleas Court of Lucas County.                In March 1998,
respondent prepared and filed a motion in the same court, in which he represented
himself as attorney for defendant David Davis. In the latter case, respondent
subsequently filed a motion to withdraw as counsel.            In December 1997,
respondent prepared and filed an answer to a complaint on behalf of Barbara and
Mike Mitchell in the Municipal Court of Toledo, Lucas County.
       The board      concluded    that respondent’s      actions constituted the
unauthorized practice of law, and recommended that he both be prohibited from
engaging in such activity in the future and reimburse the board and relator for
costs and expenses.
                              __________________
       Jonathan B. Cherry; Bugbee & Conkle and Gregory B. Denny, for relator.
       Edward E. Palmer, pro se.
                              __________________
       Per Curiam. We adopt the findings, conclusion, and recommendation of
the board. The unauthorized practice of law consists of “the rendering of legal
services for another by any person not admitted to practice in Ohio * * *.”
Gov.Bar R. VII(2)(A). We have held that the practice of law “embraces the
preparation of pleadings and other papers incident to actions and special
proceedings and the management of such actions and proceedings on behalf of
clients before judges and courts.” Akron Bar Assn. v. Greene (1997), 77 Ohio
St.3d 279, 280, 673 N.E.2d 1307, 1308.
       Respondent prepared and filed a complaint, a motion, and an answer on
behalf of three separate clients. In one instance, respondent explicitly represented
himself as defendant’s attorney in a motion that he prepared, and subsequently
filed, to withdraw as counsel. In light of the fact that respondent is not a licensed
attorney in Ohio, his actions clearly constitute the unauthorized practice of law.
Respondent is hereby enjoined from further engaging in these or similar actions.
Costs are taxed to respondent.
                                                             Judgment accordingly.
       MOYER, C.J., DOUGLAS, RESNICK, F.E. SWEENEY, PFEIFER, COOK and
LUNDBERG STRATTON, JJ., concur.

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