The Ohio Board of Professional Conduct today announced the certification of 20 cases from February through April for formal disciplinary proceedings.

In each case, a certified complaint has been sent to the respondent, and the respondent has been directed 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. If the respondent does not answer the allegations, the respondent’s failure to answer will be certified to the Ohio Supreme Court, and the Supreme Court may suspend the respondent’s license to practice law.

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 list of Board hearings.

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

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

Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association v. James Arthur Gay
Case No. 2017-003
Respondent’s counsel: Tyrone E. Reed

Akron Bar Association v. Jon David Tucker
Case No. 2017-004
Respondent’s counsel: None

Warren County Bar Association v. Jeffrey Charles Meadows
Case No. 2017-005
Respondent’s counsel: George D. Jonson

Columbus Bar Association v. David Paul Rieser
Case No. 2017-006
Respondent’s counsel: Jonathan E. Coughlan

Disciplinary Counsel v. Christopher Thomas Cicero
Case No. 2017-007
Respondent’s counsel: None

Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association v. Steven Jerome Moody
Case No. 2017-008
Respondent’s counsel: Richard C. Alkire and Dean C. Nieding

Mahoning County Bar Association v. John Aloysius McNally IV
Case No. 2017-009
Respondent’s counsel: Lynn A. Maro

Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association v. Alisa Carol Butscher
Case No. 2017-010
Respondent’s counsel: None

Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association v. Debbie Kay Horton
Case No. 2017-011
Respondent’s counsel: None

Wood County Bar Association v. Sarah Ann Miller Driftmyer
Case No. 2017-012
Respondent’s counsel: None

Mahoning County Bar Association v. Michael Vincent Sciortino
Case No. 2017-013
Respondent’s counsel: John B. Juhasz Jr.

Dayton Bar Association v. Clinton Ralph Wilcoxson II
Case No. 2017-014
Respondent’s counsel: None

Disciplinary Counsel v. Jason Allan Sarver
Case No. 2017-015
Respondent’s counsel: None

Mahoning County Bar Association v. Martin Edward Yavorcik
Case No. 2017-016
Respondent’s counsel: John B. Juhasz Jr.

Columbus Bar Association v. John Joseph Okuley
Case No. 2017-017
Respondent’s counsel: None

Mahoning County Bar Association v. Dennis Armand DiMartino
Case No. 2017-018
Respondent’s counsel: John B. Juhasz Jr.

Columbus Bar Association v. Christopher William Striff Jr.
Case No. 2017-019
Respondent’s counsel: None

Disciplinary Counsel v. Brian William Benbow
Case No. 2017-020
Respondent’s counsel: None

Disciplinary Counsel v. Brian Wade Harter
Case No. 2017-021
Respondent’s counsel: None

Akron Bar Association v. Jeffrey Van Hawkins
Case No. 2017-022
Respondent’s counsel: None