Supreme Court Suspends Licenses of West Chester Attorney, Former Ravenna Judge
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In separate disciplinary actions announced today, the Supreme Court of Ohio suspended the licenses of attorneys Bradley M. Kraemer of West Chester and former judge John Joseph Plough of Ravenna.
2009-2336. Disciplinary Counsel v. Kraemer, Slip Opinion No. 2010-Ohio-3300.
On Certified Report by the Board of Commissioners on Grievances and Discipline, No. 09-052. Bradley M. Kraemer, Attorney Registration No. 0070329, is suspended from the practice of law in Ohio for two years, with one year stayed on conditions, and with credit for one year of the interim suspension imposed on July 10, 2008.
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-3300.pdf 
View oral argument video of this case.
(July 21, 2010) The Supreme Court of Ohio today suspended the law license of West Chester attorney Bradley M. Kraemer for two years, with the second year stayed on conditions, for misappropriating more than $7,000 from his law firm in 2007 by failing to remit the firm’s agreed 60 percent share of approximately $12,000 in legal fees Kraemer had received from clients. Kraemer subsequently admitted his misconduct and entered a guilty plea to a felony count of theft. He was sentenced to a term of community control, fined $1,000, and ordered to make restitution for the misappropriated funds. His law license has been under an interim suspension since July 2008 as a result of his felony conviction.
In today’s decision the Court adopted findings by the Board of Commissioners on Grievances & Discipline that Kraemer’s conduct violated the state disciplinary rules that prohibit an attorney from committing an illegal act that reflects adversely on the attorney’s honesty or trustworthiness; engaging in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation; and engaging in conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice.
In light of mitigating factors including Kraemer’s full restitution to his former employer, lack of a prior disciplinary record, cooperation with disciplinary authorities, diagnosis with a psychiatric condition that contributed to his violations and the significant penalties and sanctions already imposed on him, the Court ordered that one year of the time he has served under interim suspension be counted toward his one-year term of actual suspension. As a result, Kraemer is eligible to apply for immediate reinstatement of his license on the conditions that he continue to participate in mental health counseling and serve a two-year term of probation monitored by the Office of Disciplinary Counsel upon returning to practice.
The Court’s 6-0 per curiam decision was joined by Justices Paul E. Pfeifer, Evelyn Lundberg Stratton, Maureen O’Connor, Terrence O’Donnell, Judith Ann Lanzinger and Robert R. Cupp.
Chief Justice Eric Brown did not participate in the court’s deliberations or decision in this case.
Contacts
Jonathan E. Coughlan, 614.461.0256, for the Office of Disciplinary Counsel.
Michael T. Gmoser, 513.892.8251, for Bradley Kraemer.
2009-2341. Disciplinary Counsel v. Plough, Slip Opinion No. 2010-Ohio-3298.
On Certified Report by the Board of Commissioners on Grievances and Discipline, No. 09-026. John Joseph Plough, Attorney Registration No. 0012818, is suspended from the practice of law in Ohio for one year, with six months stayed on condition.
Pfeifer, Lundberg Stratton, O'Donnell, Lanzinger, and Cupp, JJ., concur.
O'Connor, J., dissents and would suspend respondent from the practice of law in Ohio for one year.
Brown, C.J., not participating.
Opinion: http://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/rod/docs/pdf/0/2010/2010-Ohio-3298.pdf
(July 21, 2010) Former Portage County Municipal Court Judge John J. Plough of Ravenna has been suspended from the practice of law for one year, with the final six months of that term stayed, for violations of the Code of Judicial Conduct and Rules of Professional Conduct during his service on the bench. Plough’s latest term of office expired on Dec. 31, 2009. He did not seek reelection.
The Supreme Court adopted findings by the Board of Commissioners on Grievances and Discipline that on multiple occasions over a period of several years Plough failed to dispose of judicial matters promptly, efficiently and fairly; failed to diligently discharge his administrative duties without bias; engaged in ex parte communication with a prosecutor in a case before his court; engaged in conduct that was prejudicial to the administration of justice and engaged in intemperate behavior during court proceedings that undermined public confidence in the impartiality and integrity of the judiciary.
The Court agreed with the board’s conclusions that Plough committed 10 violations of the Code of Judicial Conduct and four violations of the Code of Professional Responsibility, and adopted the board-recommended sanction of a one-year suspension with six months of that term stayed.
The Court’s 5-1 per curiam opinion was joined by Justices Paul E. Pfeifer, Evelyn Lundberg Stratton, Terrence O’Donnell, Judith Ann Lanzinger and Robert R. Cupp. Justice Maureen O’Connor dissented, stating that she would impose a one-year license suspension.
Chief Justice Eric Brown did not participate in the court’s deliberations or decision in this case.
Contacts
Jonathan E. Coughlan, 614.461.0256, for the Office of Disciplinary Counsel.
George Jonson, 513.241.4722, for John Plough.
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