The Supreme Court of Ohio has suspended the Ohio  law license of attorney Michael W. Davis of Fort Thomas, Kentucky, for one year, with the final six months of that term stayed,  for violating  three provisions of the Rules of Professional Conduct.

In a 7-0 per curiam opinion, the court adopted a consent-to-discipline agreement in which Davis admitted that he failed to notify clients that he did not carry malpractice insurance, failed to keep client funds in his possession in a dedicated trust account separate from his own funds, and included in his fee contract a provision for automatic withdrawal from representation when local rules required him to file for leave of court before abandoning a client’s case.

In setting the sanction for this misconduct, the court noted the aggravating factor that Martin committed multiple offenses  and the mitigating factors that he had practiced law for more than 35 years with no prior disciplinary infractions and displayed a cooperative attitude toward the disciplinary proceedings.

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2012-0687.  Cincinnati Bar Assn. v. Davis, Slip Opinion No. 2012-Ohio-4998.
On Certified Report by the Board of Commissioners on Grievances and Discipline, No. 11-111.  Michael W. Davis, Attorney Registration No. 0016994, is suspended from the practice of law for a period of one year, with the final six months of the suspension stayed on condition.
O’Connor, C.J., and Pfeifer, Lundberg Stratton, O’Donnell, Lanzinger, Cupp, and McGee Brown, JJ., concur.
Opinion: http://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/rod/docs/pdf/0/2012/2012-Ohio-4998.pdf

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