Disciplinary Counsel v. Bramble

[Cite as Disciplinary Counsel v. Bramble, ___ Ohio St.3d ___, 2014-Ohio-3179.]
DISCIPLINARY COUNSEL v. BRAMBLE.
[Cite as Disciplinary Counsel v. Bramble, ___ Ohio St.3d ___,
2014-Ohio-3179.]
Attorneys at law—Reciprocal discipline from the Supreme Court of Appeals of
West Virginia—Interim suspension—Gov.Bar R. V(11)(F)(4).
(No. 2014-1056—Submitted July 18, 2014—Decided July 22, 2014.)
ON CERTIFIED ORDER of the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia,
Case No. 13-0829.
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{¶ 1} This cause is pending before the Supreme Court of Ohio in
accordance with the reciprocal-discipline provisions of Gov.Bar R. V(11)(F).
{¶ 2} On June 23, 2014, relator, disciplinary counsel, filed with this
court a certified copy of an order of the Supreme Court of Appeals of West
Virginia entered August 27, 2013, in Office of Disciplinary Counsel v. Bramble,
in case No. 13-0829, suspending respondent for an interim period pursuant to
Rule 3.27 of the West Virginia Rules of Lawyer Disciplinary Procedure. On July
2, 2014, this court ordered respondent to show cause why identical or comparable
discipline should not be imposed in this state.
{¶ 3} On consideration thereof, it is ordered and adjudged by this court
that, pursuant to Gov.Bar R. V(11)(F)(4), respondent, Mark A. Bramble, Attorney
Registration No. 0067452, last known business address in Charleston, West
Virginia, is suspended from the practice of law for an interim period, effective as
of the date of this entry. It is further ordered that respondent will not be reinstated
to the practice of law in Ohio until such time as respondent is reinstated to the
practice of law in the state of West Virginia.
SUPREME COURT OF OHIO
{¶ 4} It is further ordered that respondent immediately cease and desist
from the practice of law in any form and that he is forbidden to appear on behalf
of another before any court, judge, commission, board, administrative agency, or
other public authority.
{¶ 5} It is further ordered that respondent is forbidden to counsel, advise,
or prepare legal instruments for others or in any manner perform legal services for
others.
{¶ 6} It is further ordered that respondent is divested of each, any, and all
of the rights, privileges, and prerogatives customarily accorded to a member in
good standing of the legal profession of Ohio.
{¶ 7} 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(8)(G)(3). If employed pursuant to Gov.Bar R.
V(8)(G), respondent shall refrain from direct client contact except as provided in
Gov.Bar R. V(8)(G)(1) and from receiving, disbursing, or otherwise handling any
client trust funds or property.
{¶ 8} It is further ordered that pursuant to Gov.Bar R. X(13), respondent
shall complete one credit hour of continuing legal education for each month, or
portion of a month, of the suspension. As part of the total credit hours of
continuing legal education required by Gov.Bar R. X(13), respondent shall
complete one credit hour of the instruction related to professional conduct
required by Gov.Bar R. X(3)(B) for each six months, or portion of six months, of
the suspension.
{¶ 9} 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 Clients’ Security Fund 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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January Term, 2014
Clients’ Security Fund awards any amount against respondent pursuant to
Gov.Bar R. VIII(7)(F), respondent shall reimburse that amount to the Clients’
Security Fund within 90 days of the notice of that award.
{¶ 10} It is further ordered that respondent shall not be reinstated to the
practice of law in Ohio until (1) respondent complies with the requirements for
reinstatement set forth in the Supreme Court Rules for the Government of the Bar
of Ohio, (2) respondent complies with the Supreme Court Rules for the
Government of the Bar of Ohio, (3) respondent files evidence with the clerk of
this court and with disciplinary counsel demonstrating his reinstatement to the
practice of law in West Virginia, (4) respondent complies with this and all other
orders issued by this court, and (5) this court orders respondent reinstated.
{¶ 11} It is further ordered that on or before 30 days from the date of this
order, respondent shall do the following:
{¶ 12} 1. Notify all clients being represented in pending matters and any
co-counsel of respondent’s suspension and consequent disqualification to act as
an attorney after the effective date of this order and, in the absence of co-counsel,
also notify the clients to seek legal service elsewhere, calling attention to any
urgency in seeking the substitution of another attorney in his place;
{¶ 13} 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 co-counsel, 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;
{¶ 14} 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;
{¶ 15} 4. Notify opposing counsel or, in the absence of counsel, the
adverse parties in pending litigation of respondent’s disqualification to act as an
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SUPREME COURT OF OHIO
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;
{¶ 16} 5. Send all notices required by this order by certified mail with a
return address where communications may thereafter be directed to respondent;
{¶ 17} 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
service of the notices required herein, and setting forth the address where the
respondent may receive communications; and
{¶ 18} 7. Retain and maintain a record of the various steps taken by
respondent pursuant to this order.
{¶ 19} 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.
{¶ 20} 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.
{¶ 21} 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’
last known address.
{¶ 22} It is further ordered that the clerk of this court issue certified copies
of this order as provided for in Gov.Bar R. V(8)(D)(1), that publication be made
as provided for in Gov.Bar R. V(8)(D)(2), and that respondent bear the costs of
publication.
O’CONNOR, C.J., and PFEIFER, O’DONNELL, LANZINGER, KENNEDY,
FRENCH, and O’NEILL, JJ., concur.
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