Columbus Attorney Suspended
2009-0466. Columbus Bar Assn. v. Kizer, Slip Opinion No. 2009-Ohio-4763.
On Certified Report by the Board of Commissioners on Grievances and Discipline, No. 08-007. Tanya Johnston Kizer, Attorney Registration No. 0073402, is suspended from the practice of law in Ohio for 18 months commencing September 17, 2008.
Moyer, C.J., and Pfeifer, Lundberg Stratton, O'Connor, O'Donnell, Lanzinger, and Cupp, JJ., concur.
Opinion: http://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/rod/docs/pdf/0/2009/2009-Ohio-4763.pdf 
(Sept. 17, 2009) In a 7-0 decision announced today, the Supreme Court of Ohio imposed an 18-month suspension against the license of Columbus attorney Tanya Johnston Kizer. Kizer has been registered with the Court as inactive since September 2008.
The Court adopted findings by the Board of Commissioners on Grievances & Discipline that Kizer caused harm to multiple clients by neglecting legal matters they entrusted to her, failed to respond to repeated communications from those clients about their cases, failed to retain fee advances in a dedicated client trust account until they had been earned, and failed to refund unearned fees to which clients were entitled.
The Court set a number of conditions for reinstatement of Kizer’s license after her term of suspension is completed, including making restitution to her clients, working with a qualified mental health professional to address issues that contributed to her misconduct, undergoing a substance abuse assessment and complying with the terms of any treatment or recovery regimen recommended by the Ohio Lawyers Assistance Program.
Contacts
Joanne Peters, 614.221.2121, for the Columbus Bar Association.
Tanya J. Kizer, pro se, 614.238.0265.
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