Court Suspends Lakewood, Cleveland Attorneys
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In separate disciplinary actions announced today, the Supreme Court of Ohio suspended the licenses of attorneys John L. Sayler of Lakewood and Lawrence F. Peskin of Cleveland.
2008-2381. Cleveland Metro. Bar Assn. v. Sayler, Slip Opinion No. 2010-Ohio-1810.
On Certified Report by the Board of Commissioners on Grievances and Discipline, No. 08-073. John L. Sayler, Attorney Registration No. 0025452, is indefinitely suspended from the practice of law in Ohio.
Pfeifer, Acting C.J., and Lundberg Stratton, O'Connor, O'Donnell, Lanzinger, and Cupp, JJ., concur.
The late Chief Justice Thomas J. Moyer did not participate in the decision in this case.
Opinion: http://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/rod/docs/pdf/0/2010/2010-Ohio-1810.pdf 
(April 29, 2010) The Supreme Court of Ohio today indefinitely suspended the license of Lakewood attorney John L. Sayler for continuing to practice law after his license was suspended, for neglecting and then abandoning the cases of two clients whom he failed to advise about the license suspension or his lack of malpractice insurance, and for failing to promptly cooperate with disciplinary authorities investigating his misconduct.
The Court unanimously adopted findings by the Board of Commissioners on Grievances & Discipline that Sayler continued to engage in the practice of law after his license was suspended in May 2006 for failure to complete required continuing legal education coursework, and that he violated other state attorney discipline rules in his handling of two domestic relations cases that he later abandoned, resulting in harm to both clients.
Contacts
K. Ann Zimmerman, 216.696.3525, for the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association.
John L. Sayler, pro se, 216.529.1794.
2009-2009. Ohio State Bar Assn. v. Peskin, Slip Opinion No. 2010-Ohio-1811.
On Certified Report by the Board of Commissioners on Grievances and Discipline, No. 08-050. Lawrence Frederick Peskin, Attorney Registration No. 0059391, is suspended from the practice of law in Ohio for two years, with 18 months stayed on conditions.
Pfeifer, Acting C.J., and Lundberg Stratton, O'Connor, O'Donnell, Lanzinger, and Cupp, JJ., concur.
The late Chief Justice Thomas J. Moyer did not participate in the decision in this case.
Opinion: http://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/rod/docs/pdf/0/2010/2010-Ohio-1811.pdf
View oral argument video of this case.
(April 29, 2010) The law license of Cleveland attorney Lawrence F. Peskin has been suspended for two years, with the final 18 months of that term stayed on conditions, for professional misconduct arising from his admitted use of illegal drugs, culminating in a 2007 arrest for possession of crack cocaine and resisting arrest.
The Court adopted findings by the Board of Commissioners on Grievances & Discipline that Peskin’s occasional use of marijuana since adolescence and intermittent use of cocaine between 2004 and 2007 violated the state attorney discipline rules that prohibit engaging in conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice and conduct that adversely reflects on an attorney’s fitness to practice law.
In its 6-0 per curiam opinion, the Court acknowledged that Peskin had completed an intervention program that resulted in the dismissal of the criminal charges against him, and had voluntarily participated in 12-step sobriety program for a year after his arrest, but had since abandoned that program as inappropriate and continued to assert that his former drug use had never endangered the interests of his clients and that the consequences of his conduct, including termination from his former law firm, were unfairly severe compared to the treatment of other attorneys who engaged in similar conduct. In light of those findings, and a psychological evaluation suggesting the need for continuing oversight of Peskin’s conduct, the Court rejected the disciplinary board’s recommendation of a fully stayed license suspension and instead imposed a two-year suspension with the final 18 months stayed.
Contacts
William C. Mann, 614.224.4114, for the Ohio State Bar Association.
Steven D. Bell, 216.925.5484, for Lawrence Peskin.
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