The Supreme Court of Ohio has indefinitely suspended the  law license of Galloway attorney Mark J. Squeo for giving false and misleading information to the driver of a car involved in a collision with a car in which Squeo was a passenger, and for continuing to practice law while his license was under administrative suspension for failing to complete required continuing legal education coursework and failing to comply with state attorney registration requirements. 

In a 7-0 per curiam opinion announced today, the court adopted findings by the Board of Commissioners on Grievances & Discipline that Squeo falsely held himself out as a licensed attorney, and engaged in conduct involving fraud, deceit, dishonesty or misrepresentation and conduct that reflects adversely on his fitness to practice law when he gave false information to the other driver at the  scene of a 2009 traffic accident.

The court also adopted findings by the disciplinary board that despite the continuous suspension of his law license since 2003,  Squeo engaged in the unlicensed practice of law by identifying himself as a licensed attorney and filing documents with the Franklin County Recorder on behalf of two different clients in 2004.

The court also found that by failing to respond to repeated requests for information from the Columbus Bar Association, and failing to appear for a scheduled deposition or for a hearing on the misconduct charges brought against him, Squeo violated the professional conduct rules that require attorneys to provide information requested by disciplinary authorities and otherwise cooperate with investigations of alleged attorney misconduct.

Under the terms of the suspension imposed today, Squeo will be ineligible to apply for readmission as an attorney until at least October 2014.

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2012-0697.  Columbus Bar Assn. v. Squeo, Slip Opinion No. 2012-Ohio-5004.
On Certified Report by the Board of Commissioners on Grievances and Discipline, No. 11-038.  Mark Joseph Squeo, Attorney Registration No. 0041259, is indefinitely suspended from the practice of law in Ohio.
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-5004.pdf

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