Cleveland Bar Ass'n v. Reed
Cleveland Bar Ass'n v. Reed
Opinion of the Court
On January 19, 2000, we determined that Cornell Moore, a lawyer in good standing in the state of Pennsylvania, had engaged in the unauthorized practice of law in Ohio by advising Ohio clients on personal injury matters, entering into contingency fee agreements with them, negotiating on their behalf with insurance companies, and agreeing to settlements for them. Cleveland Bar Assn. v. Moore (2000), 87 Ohio St.3d 583, 722 N.E.2d 514. We enjoined Moore from the further practice of law in Ohio.
Now, based upon a complaint filed by relator, Cleveland Bar Association, on August 14, 2000, we are called upon to determine whether respondent, Tyrone E. Reed of Cleveland, Ohio, Attorney Registration No. 0030839, aided Moore in the unauthorized practice of law. Respondent answered, and the matter was referred to a panel of the Board of Commissioners on Grievances and Discipline (“board”).
Based upon testimony introduced at the hearing, the panel found that in 1994, respondent leased office space to Moore. While working out of that office space, Moore negotiated with insurance companies and settled some cases on a contingency fee basis. Cases that he could not settle, Moore referred to respondent for litigation. At the beginning of his tenancy in respondent’s offices, Moore produced letters from the Cleveland Bar Association and the Office of the Disciplinary Counsel of the Supreme Court of Ohio stating that Moore’s activity did not constitute the unauthorized practice of law.
But respondent went further than merely leasing space to Moore. He listed Moore on his letterhead captioned “Tyrone E. Reed & Associates” as “Cornell Moore (Lie. in PA Only).” On his own initiative, respondent placed an advertisement in the telephone Yellow Pages that read
The panel concluded that respondent’s conduct violated DR 3-101(A) (a lawyer shall not aid a nonlawyer in the unauthorized practice of law), 3-102 (a lawyer or
The panel recommended that respondent receive a public reprimand. The board adopted the findings, conclusions, and recommendation of the panel.
On review of the record, we adopt the findings, conclusions, and recommendation of the board. Respondent is hereby publicly reprimanded. Costs are taxed to respondent.
Judgment accordingly.
. The advertisement was one column wide, two inches high. The slash marks herein indicate line breaks in the advertisement.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Cleveland Bar Association v. Reed
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- Published