Cincinnati Attorney Indefinitely Suspended
2009-2290. Disciplinary Counsel v. Gittinger, Slip Opinion No. 2010-Ohio-1830.
On Certified Report by the Board of Commissioners on Grievances and Discipline, No. 09-031. Steven C. Gittinger, Attorney Registration No. 0011887, is indefinitely suspended from the practice of law in Ohio.
Pfeifer, Lundberg Stratton, O'Connor, O'Donnell, Lanzinger, and Cupp, JJ., concur.
Brown, C.J., not participating.
Opinion: http://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/rod/docs/pdf/0/2010/2010-Ohio-1830.pdf 
(May 4, 2010) The Supreme Court of Ohio today indefinitely suspended the license of Cincinnati attorney Steven C. Gittinger for engaging in conduct that resulted in his 2008 conviction on a felony count of bank fraud. Gittinger’s law license has been under an interim suspension since the Court was advised of his felony conviction.
In a 6-0 per curiam opinion, the Court adopted findings by the Board of Commissioners on Grievances & Discipline that Gittinger used his position as a principal of a real estate title agency to assist a client in defrauding federally insured financial institutions by knowingly preparing a falsified loan application, fictitious down payment check and inaccurate U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development settlement statement that the client used to obtain financing for the purchase of a home in Clarksville under false pretenses.
The Court agreed with the board’s conclusion that Gittinger’s actions violated the state disciplinary rules that prohibit an attorney from engaging in illegal conduct involving moral turpitude, conduct involving fraud, deceit, dishonesty or misrepresentation, and conduct that reflects adversely on the attorney’s fitness to practice law. As the appropriate sanction for this misconduct, the Court imposed an indefinite suspension of Gittinger’s license retroactive to the date of his interim suspension, with the condition that he may not apply for reinstatement until he has either completed, or otherwise satisfied, all the conditions imposed by the federal court and his underlying criminal case is resolved.
Chief Justice Eric Brown did not participate in the Court’s deliberations or decision in the case.
Contacts
Jonathan E. Coughlan, 614.461.0256, for the Office of Disciplinary Counsel.
Robert W. Cettel, 513.766.3883, for Steven Gittinger.
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