The Ohio Supreme Court’s Board of Professional Conduct today announced eight cases recently certified to the board by a probable cause panel.

In each case, a certified complaint has been sent to the respondent, and the respondent has been asked to file an answer to the allegations contained in the complaint. Once an answer is received, the case will be assigned to a three-member hearing panel of the board, and the hearing panel will conduct further proceedings in the case.

Typically, a public hearing is scheduled within four to six months after the case is assigned to a hearing panel. Please consult the Upcoming Hearings schedule for a monthly schedule of board hearings. Contact the board’s office at 614.387.9370 to confirm that a hearing will be held as scheduled or for more information about a case. Case documents can be obtained via e-mail upon request.

If the board finds that a lawyer or judge has engaged in professional misconduct, the board will file a report with the Supreme Court that includes a recommended sanction. The Supreme Court is responsible for reviewing the case record and imposing discipline.

A (*) denotes a waiver of probable cause by the respondent that results in immediate certification of the case to the board.

To access the complaints in these cases, click on the individual case numbers below.

Disciplinary Counsel, Relator v. Mark Alan Thomas, Respondent
Case No. 2015-042
Respondent’s address: 118 W. Main St., St. Clairsville
Respondent’s Counsel: None

*Disciplinary Counsel, Relator v. Gary Nieland Bakst, Respondent
Case No. 2015-044
Respondent’s address: #A670123, GCI, 2500 S. Avon Belden Road, Grafton
Respondent’s Counsel: Gregory T. Hoffpauir and George D. Jonson

Trumbull County Bar Association, Relator v. Raymond John Masek, Respondent
Case No. 2015-045
Respondent’s address: 183 W. Market St., Suite 300, Warren
Respondent’s Counsel: None

Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, Relator v. Matthew Joseph King, Respondent
Case No. 2015-046
Respondent’s address: 1337 W. 10th St., Bridgeview Apts., Cleveland
Respondent’s Counsel: None

Disciplinary Counsel, Relator v. Rasheed Asani Simmonds, Respondent
Case No. 2015-047
Respondent’s address: 119 E. Court St., Suite 302, Cincinnati
Respondent’s counsel: None

*Disciplinary Counsel, Relator v. Meredith Lynn Lawrence, Respondent
Case No. 2015-048
Respondent’s address: 107 E. High St., P.O. Box 1330, Warsaw, Ky
Respondent’s counsel: James B. Helmer Jr.

Medina County Bar Association, Relator v. Steven Bruce Beranek, Respondent
Case No. 2015-049
Respondent’s address: P.O. Box 601, Medina
Respondent’s counsel: None

*Disciplinary Counsel, Relator v. Terence Joseph Fairfax, Respondent
Case No. 2015-050
Respondent’s address: 401 Church St., Nashville, Tenn.
Respondent’s counsel: Harvey B. Bruner

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