In re Resignation of Kingsbury ( 2024 )

[Cite as In re Resignation of Kingsbury, ___ Ohio St.3d ___, 2024-Ohio-90.]
IN RE RESIGNATION OF KINGSBURY.
[Cite as In re Resignation of Kingsbury, ___ Ohio St.3d ___, 2024-Ohio-90.]
Attorneys at law—Resignation with disciplinary action pending—Gov.Bar R.
VI(11)(C).
(No. 2023-1515—Submitted January 9, 2024—Decided January 12, 2024.)
ON APPLICATION FOR RETIREMENT OR RESIGNATION
PURSUANT TO GOV.BAR R. VI(11).
_________________
{¶ 1} Dorothea Jane Kingsbury, Attorney Registration No. 0009993, last
known business address in Mayfield Village, Ohio, who was admitted to the bar of
this state on November 6, 1981, submitted an application for retirement or
resignation pursuant to Gov.Bar R. VI(11). The application was referred to
disciplinary counsel pursuant to Gov.Bar R. VI(11)(B). On November 30, 2023,
the Office of Attorney Services filed disciplinary counsel’s report, under seal, with
this court in accordance with Gov.Bar R. VI(11)(B)(2).
{¶ 2} On consideration thereof, it is ordered by the court that pursuant to
Gov.Bar R. VI(11)(C), the resignation as an attorney and counselor at law is
accepted as a resignation with disciplinary action pending.
{¶ 3} It is further ordered and adjudged that from and after this date all
rights and privileges extended to respondent to practice law in the state of Ohio be
withdrawn, that henceforth respondent shall cease to hold herself forth as an
attorney authorized to appear in the courts of this state, and that respondent shall
not attempt, either directly or indirectly, to render services as an attorney or
counselor at law to or for any individuals, corporation, or society, nor in any way
perform or seek to perform services for anyone, no matter how constituted, that
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must by law be executed by a duly appointed and qualified attorney within the state
of Ohio.
{¶ 4} It is further ordered that respondent desist and refrain from the
practice of law in any form, either as principal or agent or clerk or employee of
another, and hereby is forbidden to appear in the state of Ohio as an attorney and
counselor at law before any court, judge, board, commission, or other public
authority, and hereby is forbidden to give another an opinion as to the law or its
application or advise with relation thereto.
{¶ 5} It is further ordered that before entering into an employment,
contractual, or consulting relationship with any attorney or law firm, respondent
shall verify that the attorney or law firm has complied with the registration
requirements of Gov.Bar R. V(23)(C). If employed pursuant to Gov.Bar R. V(23),
respondent shall refrain from direct client contact except as provided in Gov.Bar R.
V(23)(A)(1) and from receiving, disbursing, or otherwise handling any client trust
funds or property.
{¶ 6} It is further ordered that respondent shall not enter into an
employment, contractual, or consulting relationship with an attorney or law firm
with which respondent was associated as a partner, shareholder, member, or
employee at the time respondent engaged in the misconduct that resulted in this
acceptance of respondent’s resignation with discipline pending.
{¶ 7} It is further ordered that respondent shall surrender respondent’s
certificate of admission to practice to the clerk of the court on or before 30 days
from the date of this order and that respondent’s name be stricken from the roll of
attorneys maintained by this court.
{¶ 8} It is further ordered by the court that within 90 days of the date of this
order, respondent shall reimburse any amounts that have been awarded against
respondent by the Lawyers’ Fund for Client Protection pursuant to Gov.Bar R.
VIII(7)(F). It is further ordered by the court that if after the date of this order the
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Lawyers’ Fund for Client Protection awards any amount against respondent
pursuant to Gov.Bar R. VIII(7)(F), respondent shall reimburse that amount to the
Lawyers’ Fund for Client Protection within 90 days of the notice of that award.
{¶ 9} It is further ordered that on or before 30 days from the date of this
order, respondent shall do the following:
{¶ 10} 1. Notify all clients being represented in pending matters and any
cocounsel of respondent’s resignation and consequent disqualification to act as an
attorney after the effective date of this order and, in the absence of cocounsel, also
notify the clients to seek legal services elsewhere, calling attention to any urgency
in seeking the substitution of another attorney in respondent’s place;
{¶ 11} 2. Regardless of any fees or expenses due, deliver to all clients being
represented in pending matters any papers or other property pertaining to the client
or notify the clients or cocounsel, if any, of a suitable time and place where the
papers or other property may be obtained, calling attention to any urgency for
obtaining such papers or other property;
{¶ 12} 3. Refund any part of any fees or expenses paid in advance that are
unearned or not paid and account for any trust money or property in the possession
or control of respondent;
{¶ 13} 4. Notify opposing counsel or, in the absence of counsel, the adverse
parties in pending litigation of respondent’s disqualification to act as an attorney
after the effective date of this order and file a notice of disqualification of
respondent with the court or agency before which the litigation is pending for
inclusion in the respective file or files;
{¶ 14} 5. Send all notices required by this order by certified mail with a
return address where communications may thereafter be directed to respondent;
{¶ 15} 6. File with the clerk of this court and disciplinary counsel of the
Supreme Court an affidavit showing compliance with this order, showing proof of
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service of the notices required herein, and setting forth the address where
respondent may receive communications; and
{¶ 16} 7. Retain and maintain a record of the various steps taken by
respondent pursuant to this order.
{¶ 17} It is further ordered that until such time as respondent fully complies
with this order, respondent shall keep the clerk and disciplinary counsel advised of
any change of address where respondent may receive communications.
{¶ 18} It is further ordered that all documents filed with this court in this
case shall meet the filing requirements set forth in the Rules of Practice of the
Supreme Court of Ohio, including requirements as to form, number, and timeliness
of filings. All case documents are subject to Sup.R. 44 through 47, which govern
access to court records.
{¶ 19} It is further ordered that service shall be deemed made on respondent
by sending this order and all other orders in this case to respondent’s last known
address.
{¶ 20} It is further ordered that the clerk of this court issue certified copies
of this order as provided for in Gov.Bar R. V(17)(E)(1) and that publication be
made as provided for in Gov.Bar R. V(17)(E)(2).
KENNEDY, C.J., and DEWINE, DONNELLY, STEWART, BRUNNER, and
DETERS, JJ., concur.
FISCHER, J., dissents, with an opinion.
_________________
FISCHER, J., dissenting.
{¶ 21} I have written multiple times regarding my disapproval of this
court’s accepting attorneys’ applications to resign from the practice of law when
they have disciplinary action pending. See In re Resignation of Leone, 160 Ohio
St.3d 1227, 2020-Ohio-2997, 155 N.E.3d 950 (Fischer, J., dissenting); In re
Resignation of Berling, 161 Ohio St.3d 1275, 2020-Ohio-5060, 164 N.E.3d 5014
January Term, 2024
(Fischer, J., dissenting); In re Resignation of Wiggins, 163 Ohio St.3d 1290, 2021-
Ohio-1347, 170 N.E.3d 915 (Fischer, J., dissenting). Allowing attorneys to resign
when disciplinary action is pending against them is problematic for multiple
reasons. See Leone at ¶ 26-43 (Fischer, J., dissenting). However, most relevant to
this case is the issue of client restitution. As I have repeatedly pointed out, allowing
attorneys who owe their clients money to resign before disciplinary action is
resolved benefits the attorney at the cost of the Lawyers’ Fund for Client Protection,
other attorneys, the Ohio Attorney General, and the public. See id. at ¶ 32-40
(Fischer, J., dissenting); Berling at ¶ 25-30 (Fischer, J., dissenting).
{¶ 22} While no disciplinary action is currently pending against the
applicant seeking to resign, Dorothea Jane Kingsbury, the concerns I have
previously raised apply equally here. While I am unable to share the details of the
report that has been submitted to this court under seal by disciplinary counsel, the
following information is readily available through public sources.
{¶ 23} On February 6, 2019, Kingsbury was indicted on four counts of theft,
one count of telecommunications fraud, and four counts of money laundering. State
v. Kingsbury, Cuyahoga C.P. No. 636132-19-CR (Feb. 6, 2019). Kingsbury was
accused of stealing large amounts of money from her clients, many of whom were
elderly or disabled. Id.; see also Ohio Supreme Court Suspends Ex-attorney
Sentenced to Prison for Stealing from Clients’ Special Needs Trusts (Mar. 23,
2023), https://www.cleveland.com/court-justice/2023/03/ohio-supreme-court-
suspends-ex-attorney-sentenced-to-prison-for-stealing-from-clients-special-needs-
trusts.html (accessed Dec. 21, 2023) [https://perma.cc/XN9N-3DF3]; WKYC
Studios, Former Cleveland Attorney Sentenced to 4 Years in Prison for Stealing
More than $1 Million from Developmentally Disabled (Mar. 15, 2023),
https://www.wkyc.com/article/news/crime/former-cleveland-attorney-sentenced-
stealing-developmentally-disabled/95-62567161-d2b2-473b-8eab-8ed782a3aab1
(accessed Dec. 21, 2023) [https://perma.cc/B89K-8VL9]. Then, on October 30,
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2019, Kingsbury was indicted on five counts of fraudulent actions concerning a tax
return. State v. Kingsbury, Cuyahoga C.P. No. 645251-19-CR (Oct. 30, 2019).
{¶ 24} Kingsbury pled guilty to attempted theft, a second-degree felony,
with forfeiture specifications; theft, a second-degree felony, with forfeiture
specifications; money laundering, a third-degree felony; and filing incomplete,
false, and fraudulent returns, a fifth-degree felony. She was sentenced to a prison
term of four years and ordered to pay restitution to her victims totaling $750,000.
Kingsbury, Cuyahoga C.P. Nos. CR-19-636132-A and CR-19-645251-A (Mar. 15,
2023).
{¶ 25} This court received a notice of felony conviction for Kingsbury on
March 21, 2023, and suspended her from the practice of law for an interim period
pursuant to Gov.Bar R. V(18)(A)(4) on March 23, 2023. In re Kingsbury, __ Ohio
St.3d __, 2023-Ohio-920, __ N.E.3d __. Then, on November 30, 2023, we received
her application for retirement or resignation.
{¶ 26} As of today, Kingsbury has been ordered to pay $750,000 in
restitution to the clients that she wronged, Kingsbury, Cuyahoga C.P. Nos. CR-19-
636132-A and CR-19-645251-A (Mar. 15, 2023), but so far, she has paid only
$125,000 toward that restitution, Kingsbury, Cuyahoga C.P. No. CR-19-636132-A
(Dec. 16, 2020). Furthermore, the Lawyers’ Fund for Client Protection has paid a
total of at least $200,000 to two of Kingsbury’s client-victims. Court News Ohio,
Victims of Attorney Theft Awarded Over $465,000 (Sept. 18, 2023),
https://www.courtnewsohio.gov/happening/2023/LFCPSept_091823.asp
(accessed Dec. 21, 2023) [https://perma.cc/W23K-RC25].
{¶ 27} Kingsbury is currently incarcerated and suspended from practicing
law in this state. But until she pays back the clients that she has wronged—to which
she still owes over $600,000 in restitution—I would deny her request to resign from
the practice of law, since granting the request would allow her to avoid disciplinary
proceedings. Therefore, I respectfully dissent.
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January Term, 2024
_________________
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